Case Study: HoloLens to Support Podiatry Education of Diabetic Foot Ulcer - Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

This case study shows the work of the team at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to develop their podiatry workforce.

This project explored the use of Microsoft HoloLens 2 technology to enhance podiatry education and remote clinical support across multiple sites within Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. Using the device’s livestreaming and annotation capabilities, senior podiatrists could share their first-person view during diabetic foot assessments, enabling trainees and colleagues to observe complex cases in real time and access specialist advice remotely

The initiative aimed to improve learning opportunities for podiatrists while also supporting patient care through faster access to second opinions. A structured implementation process included staff training, development of clinical guidance, the introduction of a podiatry digital champion, and ongoing evaluation of the technology in routine clinics.

Evaluation highlighted significant educational benefits, with trainees and less experienced staff reporting that observing expert assessments from the clinician’s perspective enhanced learning and confidence. The technology also showed potential to improve access to expertise across geographic locations and support more efficient use of specialist resources.

The project also identified practical challenges, particularly around network connectivity, device charging requirements and the learning curve associated with the technology. These findings informed future plans to explore alternative wearable devices while continuing to build on the lessons learned from immersive technology-enabled clinical education.