Virtual wards are a new way of delivering hospital level care to patients in their own home, allowing patients to manage their health and care at home over the short term. The service can provide remote monitoring and daily ward round calls allowing regular monitoring of the person you care for by their care team when they are at home.
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT) launched its virtual in November 2022 and started with the capacity to care for up to 15 patients. Since then, this has risen to 30, making it larger than many of the West Suffolk Hospital’s inpatient wards.
Patients that are suitable are referred to the virtual ward with a care plan in place that uses technology to monitor their health at home.
Once referred, a patients’ vital signs are recorded and monitored in real-time at West Suffolk Hospital’s virtual ward hub through the technology provided to them. The innovative, wearable monitoring device measures their vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels. They receive care through home visits and remote monitoring.
Using technology in this way allows WSFT doctors, nurses, and therapy teams to keep a watchful eye on patients remotely. Patients are given a tablet, which enables them to message or video call the virtual ward team at the hub should they have any issues, which doesn’t require a pre-established internet connection in the home.
There are numerous benefits for patients from the Trust’s virtual ward. By leaving hospital sooner or avoiding it altogether, patients reduce their chance of deteriorating as a result of lengthy periods in bed or contracting Covid-19, flu or other illnesses and infections. Additionally, in many cases patients prefer to, and benefit from, being at home with their loved ones instead of in hospital, which can be difficult for both them and their families.
Carers UK provide more information about virtual wards to help answer any questions, worries or concerns you may have. They also provide a Virtual Wards checklist that may help you feel more empowered to speak to the healthcare team setting up the virtual ward for the person you care for.
