Virtual Wards.
What is a virtual ward?
Virtual wards support people to receive hospital level care in their own home rather than in a hospital bed.
They are provided for people who have a serious condition or worsening of an existing, chronic health condition and can allow people to be discharged home from hospital sooner or to avoid people being admitted to hospital.
How are patients admitted to a virtual ward?
The decision to admit someone to a virtual ward is usually made by a hospital doctor.
This is following the person attending an Emergency Department or via the Same Day Emergency Care department in hospital.
Pathways are also being developed to allow GPs to refer patients to the virtual ward.
This will enable patients to completely remain at home without the need to attend a hospital site for an assessment.
How is care provided?
People on a virtual ward are contacted daily, usually via telephone, for a clinical review to check on their recovery.
Staff can arrange tests and treatments as required, such as blood tests and medication.
While much of the care on a virtual ward is provided remotely, some patients may have face to face home visits by a member of the virtual ward team so that we can check in on them and provide treatment as required.
How does technology support virtual wards?
In many cases care is supported by using technology to help doctors and nurses to easily monitor the person’s recovery, enabling people to leave hospital sooner if they have been an inpatient, or to receive care as an alternative to going into hospital.
Services use apps and wearable devices to allow people to be able to take health readings, such as blood pressure and temperature, and share these with the virtual ward staff.
These readings are reviewed and help to inform staff of how well people are recovering.
Where are virtual wards provided across Devon?
Virtual wards in Devon are provided across the four main hospital sites.
Our services allow people to leave hospital sooner if they have been an inpatient or to receive care as an alternative to going into hospital.
The services care for people with a range of conditions including respiratory, cardiology and frailty.
Find out more about the different virtual wards across Devon:
