Photos: Inside a virtually perfect hospital

The wards are spotless, there are plenty of beds and groups of doctors are on hand to treat patients.

This is not a real hospital, however, but a virtual model inside the online world of Second Life, set up by Imperial College in London as part of a pilot project to explore game-based learning.

Third-year medical students at the university are using the simulation to learn more about spotting symptoms, diagnosing illnesses and treating patients.

The hospital mimics the make-up of a real life facility, with virtual radiology and respiratory departments, as seen here.

Photo credit: Imperial College