The challenge
Virtual wards are part of a range of initiatives to reduce unavoidable hospital admissions. These ‘Hospital at Home’ models help reduce avoidable admissions by providing the hospital-level care at home.
Th aim is to reduce pressure on the NHS and bring down waiting times by providing additional capacity through alternatives to hospital admission. It is estimated that a fifth of all admissions to hospital are avoidable and virtual wards provide an alternative way of caring for people in the comfort of their own homes.
Solution
The use of remote monitoring technology allows patients to manage their condition at home with support from clinical teams who can act swiftly if the patient’s health deteriorates. The service increases hospital bed capacity and enables more patients to receive the timely treatment they need, from the comfort of their own homes.
Dr Gurnak Dosanjh, GP and ICB Clinical Lead for the virtual wards, said: “Virtual wards are all about putting the patient experience at the centre of healthcare. We have seen that being at home can have a positive impact on recovery and mental wellbeing. We also know that staying in hospital longer than necessary can have a detrimental effect on health and independence. Extending the virtual ward service will enable us to provide safe clinical care for more patients in the comfort of their own surroundings.
“This service is a prime example of our “home first” approach to delivering care. Care providers should consider if there are ways that patients can be treated and cared for in their own home rather than in hospital.
Impact
Patients have provided positive feedback, who tell us that they really appreciate the opportunity to stay in their own home, they find the technology is very simple to use and they like the reassurance that their health is being monitored by the clinical team, so that they can receive timely support if necessary.”
Christine Di-Palma, who has been treated on the virtual ward for the lung condition COPD, says: “It’s given me peace of mind and security, knowing that someone is watching my numbers, and will phone me up if my numbers are not what they should be. There’s a respiratory nurse on the end of the phone and they know what you’re talking about, they understand. So they can gauge whether you need further help or not.”
Links to evidence/tables
Further Information
Contacts: email addresses
Resources: links to national and local resources
