Every month, approximately 1,000 patients across the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) benefit from its Hospital at Home services, also known as virtual wards.
The service has been running for more than two years and was initially launched to support patients moving their care from hospital to home and has since expanded to help prevent hospital admissions too.
Using remote monitoring technology patients are able to share real-time data such as heart rate and oxygen levels with clinicians. Teams keep in touch through phone calls, video calls and home visits, stepping in quickly as needed.
Zeph Curwen, deputy director of operations and NCA Hospital at Home lead, said: “Bringing care into people’s homes provides a safe, hospital-level alternative to a traditional hospital admission which can help faster recovery, avoid some of the risks associated with a hospital admission such as infections, falls and deconditioning providing a better patient experience. This is a central part of the NHS 10 year plan and allows hospitals to focus on providing specialist care to people who need it.”
Patients who can access Hospital at Home include those with frailty, respiratory conditions, infections, and diabetes, with plans underway to expand the service to cover even more conditions for adults and children.
One patient said: “It was comforting to know I could ring up and speak to someone within seconds. I felt grateful to stay at home rather than go into hospital.”
By delivering hospital-level care at home, the service is reducing pressure on hospitals whilst supporting a sustainable NHS for the future by bringing care into the heart of the community.
