Virtual Wards - Deliver a Virtual Ward Future

Virtual wards, also referred to as ‘Hospital at Home,’ are a way of providing care to patients during the recovery process or as long-term support.The rollout of virtual wards continues to gain momentum as a response to long hospital waiting times, particularly in A&E departments. Virtual wards are being established to free up hospital beds where feasible.

British news coverage initially suggested that virtual wards are a replacement for hospital wards. This inevitably led to public outcry and a degree of hostility towards the implementation of virtual wards, but the truth is that virtual wards are meant to be an extension of hospital care – aptly dubbed 'Hospital at Home'.

Virtual wards are a hot topic in healthcare thanks to their rollout during the Covid pandemic and their subsequent success. By effectively providing a hospital at home, patients were able to be monitored and cared for in a more relaxed, familiar environment.  

• Heightened satisfaction, quality of life, and greater independence by enabling individuals to recover in the comfort of their own homes. 
• Able to receive care from a dedicated team of healthcare professionals all hours of the day, without delay.  
• Reduced risk of infection and readmission to hospital. 
• Empowers individuals to manage their own health and increases their confidence in using technology.  
• Data-reliant integrated care systems enable patients to be discharged from a virtual ward within minutes.  

• Peace of mind that their loved one is recovering in a familiar, comfortable setting that’s easily accessible. 
• Freedom to check in and spend quality time without needing to abide by set visiting hours.  
• The option to receive real-time alerts should their loved one experience a decline in health or need to be admitted to hospital.  
• Constant monitoring by a professional reduces the burden on family members who might normally act as carers. 

• Closely monitor an individual’s health status and deliver hospital-level care without needing to be there in person.  
• Shorten the length of hospital stays by freeing up beds and increasing capacity of staff and services within hospitals and clinical settings.  
• Reduced costs for treating an individual means resources and funding can be allocated to areas that matter most.  
• Real-time alerts enable timely interventions from clinicians in the event of an emergency.  

• Offers a steady, forward-thinking method of tending to individuals with complex health needs within the community. 
• Steers away from a reactive approach that may result in numerous hospital admissions. 
• Saves valuable time, reduces the strain on services and prevents risk of duplication for the GP. 
• Real-time patient record updates enable GPs to complete forms and make referrals for local services without needing to see the patient in person. 

• Encourages collaboration between patients and carers when outlining and following their recovery plan.  
• Real-time updates via integrated systems means workers are kept informed of a person’s health status and can assess/manage their medical needs prior to their visit.  
• User can take and report readings of vital signs resulting in less visits from social carers overall. 
• More time and capacity to treat and tend to other patients in need.