Digital innovation is allowing healthcare providers to extend their services to the comfort of one’s home. Acting as an alternative to NHS bedded care, virtual wards are a novel digital technology that is beginning to be implemented across Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) as ordered by the NHSE and NHSI. 

As its name suggests, a virtual ward is similar to a hospital ward but located outside the hospital’s premises while remaining connected to staff and systems through virtual technologies such as recording and communications devices. 

The premise behind virtual wards is that they can be established in a plethora of accommodations without overloading a given hospital with increased admissions. Additionally, they provide a consistent and proactive approach to caring for people with complex disorders over large geographical areas.

For example, virtual wards were critical to navigating non-COVID-19-related conditions during the pandemic. As we know, the pandemic was a highly volatile situation for many suffering from long-term conditions whose symptoms could be significantly exacerbated by COVID-19 infection. 

To combat this, the Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) set up a system of virtual wards to support the frailty needs of retirees and elderly populations. In one case, a patient, referred to as patient A, displayed acute kidney problems and feared being admitted to the hospital due to the virus. Hence, the multidisciplinary team at KCHFT provided an in-home assessment in collaboration with a community response team to provide personalised care. Throughout the week, patient A was monitored virtually with frequent check-up calls and reviews to assess their progression and was discharged one week later after his condition stabilised. 

“We were over the moon when we realised we could have treatment at home rather than going to hospital. The service the team provided was second to none and he was so much better when he was discharged” reported patient A’s relative. 

Ultimately, this is one example of how virtual ward technology significantly improves access to healthcare services and reduces geographical and income inequalities. 

The primary mechanism of action within the national virtual ward initiative is for ICSs to use patients’ home’s as a resource while simultaneously reducing the capacity load of their own bedding resources. 

This dual action is predicted to expand healthcare service to an exponential degree where current virtual ward frameworks have produced a 40.3 per cent reduction in average hospital stay lengths and a 50 per cent reduction in hospital re-admission rates. 

Moreover, the virtual ward system is also expanding in a decentralised manner where they are being adopted by secondary, primary, social, primary care and mental health services across the country. Interestingly, collaborations with independent organisations have also been proposed creating a decentralised framework ICSs to capitalise on. 

NHSI and NHSE have proposed a two-year rollout plan, set to outline funding and delivery of virtual ward inclusion within all ICSs from now to April 2024. The goal is for 50 virtual ward beds to be available per 100 000 residents, with the target patients being acute respiratory, infection and frailty. Upon the maturity of these technologies, services will begin to include novel patient demographics in a bid to improve access within all ICS localities. 

Ultimately, the NHS is aware of the nuanced nature behind health inequalities in the country. More importantly, it is aware of the risks of exclusion stemming from digital technologies where people from social housing, low-income groups, disabilities and rural populations may receive disproportionately reduced treatment. 

These are all elements being addressed through the NHS Long Term Plan, which establishes protocols for ICSs to be driven by community needs to meet local inequalities and ensure region-wide inclusion. 

One example is the Health Inequalities Improvement Planning Matrix that ICSs have developed to account for income and geographical inequalities throughout ICS regions. 

In the end, new technologies such as virtual wards have the potential to impact thousands of individuals in need throughout the country. Consequently, the deciding factor on whether these technologies will impart a positive influence or not all depends on the following policies that will be implemented to establish the modality in which they will be used. 

Will we opt for an inclusive strategy, or will we let these technologies become another element of division? 

HIC, with discovery at the heart of our Delivery Model, is on hand to support technology suppliers and healthcare providers as they develop and navigate such cutting-edge digital transformation as virtual wards. We are truly enthused by the opportunity to deliver digital transformation to such a level that we can enable patients to receive appropriate levels of care in the comfort of their own home in the hope they avoid unnecessary admissions to hospital. Taking the virtual hospital to the patient in their own home, and doing it through the use of digital technology is true digital innovation and almost revolutionary when it comes to healthcare!

If you’re looking for knowledge and advice about virtual wards, act today and get in touch with our experts at HIC.