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Hospital at Home Virtual Ward

Date issued: April 2023 

Review date: April 2025 

Ref: C-525/SS/Ward/Hospital at Home Virtual ward

PDF:  Hospital at home virtual ward final April 2023.pdf [pdf] 306KB

What is Hospital at Home?

Hospital at Home provides acute healthcare virtually to patients in the comfort of their own home as a safe alternative to being an inpatient within the hospital or attending daily visits for reviews and/or treatment.

The service is delivered via a virtual ward team who will work with you and your hospital Consultant to assess your healthcare needs and ability to have treatment at home. A tailored plan will be developed, and the team will discuss with you what to expect during your time on the virtual ward.

You will remain under the care of your hospital Consultant and will only be discharged from the service once you have completed your treatment programme.

What are the benefits?

Many of the treatments that patients receive in hospital can now be easily delivered at home under the right supervision and approach.

Research and feedback show that recovery is much faster in a familiar and comfortable home environment, where patients are able to sleep better, eat food they enjoy and surrounded by family and friends.

How will it work?

  • Following your healthcare assessment and your consent, you will be able to go home where your treatment will continue under the care of the Virtual Ward team.

  • If required you will be provided with equipment so we can continue to monitor things like your blood pressure, pulse, temperature etc and the team will help you understand how it works before you leave the hospital.

  • You can expect a phone call from one of the nursing team on a daily basis, or as agreed by you and the team. They will check on your progress and advise on any changes to medication or treatment plans.

  • If required as part of your treatment plan you may be visited at home by one of our community services

  • There may be additional investigations required throughout your treatment like an X-ray which the team will coordinate either through local community services or you may need to attend appointments within the hospital.

  • Once treatment is completed you will be discharged from the virtual ward like you would have been if in hospital and we will tell your GP and arrange to pick up any equipment.

How long will I stay on the virtual ward for?

The length of stay can be different for each person. You will be on the virtual ward until you are medically stable, just like in the hospital.

The ward does not provide long term care, you will only stay on the ward during the acute phase of your medical illness whilst you need medical treatment to help you recover.

What if I become more unwell?

  1. If you begin to feel unwell at any time please call the Virtual Ward Team using the contact details below.

  2. If you require immediate attention and feel that it is a life-threatening situation, call 999.

How can I contact the Virtual Ward team?

  • Mon—Sun (08:00-20:00) call 01752 433290

  • Outside of these hours, please call the main hospital switchboard on 01752 202082 and ask for bleep 0316.

PRIVACY NOTICE

If you are cared for in a virtual ward, relevant confidential patient information will be used and shared with organisations directly involved in caring for you.  This will include University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) and Livewell Southwest.  It may include care homes and GPs.  For more information, see Privacy Notices – UHP - www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/information-governance and Livewell – www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/policies.  

Using the Pulse Oximeter

A finger Pulse Oximeter is a device that measures heart rate and the oxygen level in the blood. Pulse oximeters operate by shining light through the skin to the blood vessels below. The device is for adult use only by the patient.

Please remove any nail polish or false nails and ensure your hands are warm before using the pulse oximeter.

  • Turn on the pulse oximeter by pressing the power button. The screen should light up almost instantly.

  • The equipment opens like a peg, place your finger inside with the sensor screen above the fingernail.

  • Do not use your thumb as readings are less reliable, use index or middle finger.

  • Sit up placing hand on knee or table, the pulse oximeter will acquire a signal.

  • Once there is a signal numbers will appear on the screen. This should take around 5-6 seconds but can sometimes take 10 seconds or more.

  • Keep still, movement can cause an error message.

Measuring and recording your readings

You will need to record your readings according to your care plan.

  • Leave sensor in place for 2-3 minutes then make a note of your readings.

  • Look at the top of the display to see the heart rate with the symbol “PR bpm” (Pulse Rate beats per minute)

  • Look at the bottom of the display to see the oxygen saturation rate with the symbol %SpO2

  • It is important that you check you have these recorded correctly, the picture left shows:

  • heart rate of 77 PR bpm

  • oxygen saturation rate 96% SpO2

  • Enter the readings into the app.

Pulse oximeters are expensive, we only have a limited number to loan out. When you are discharged, we will arrange to come and collect the equipment from your home.

Record of Readings

 

 

Record of readings

 

Date

9am

12pm

4pm

PR bpm

SpO2

Temp

PR bpm

SpO2

Temp

PR bpm

SpO2

Temp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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