What is a "virtual ward" and who can be cared for by the service?
The ‘virtual ward’ is a team of professionals working to manage patients at home using a combination of remote monitoring and home visits.
Virtual wards enable patients with certain conditions to be safely discharged from hospital sooner, whilst still receiving the healthcare support they need.
There are virtual wards already in place for patients with the heart condition atrial fibrillation and the lung condition COPD, as well as those recovering from COVID-19.
A new virtual ward has just opened for patients who have had bowel surgery and, in early November, patients with asthma, heart failure, ambulatory jaundice, diabetes, community acquired pneumonia and blood disorders will also have access to a virtual ward, with more health conditions to follow. By December it is hoped that 231 patients will be able to be looked after simultaneously across the virtual wards service in their own homes.
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.
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.”
Read the full press release from the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board
