Virtual Ward
What is a Virtual Ward
A virtual ward lets patients receive the same safe, high-quality care they would get in hospital, but from the comfort of their own home.
You will be under the care of a Nurse-led team who will regularly review your progress with consultants and clinical staff. The team will be in contact with you to advise you of your treatment plan as well as any changes during your care.
If you need intravenous medication, you will be visited by a Nurse to administer this.
If you need any investigations such as blood tests or specific observations, a Healthcare Assistant can be arranged to visit you at home.
You will also be under the care of a dedicated pharmacy team to review any medications the virtual ward starts or changes.
Will I need any equipment?
If you have a condition which needs to be monitored, we will give you the equipment you need. You will be contacted daily by a Nurse to ensure the readings are taken and recorded for review.
Virtual Ward provided equipment
You will either be given equipment by one of the nursing team before leaving hospital or we will organise for equipment to be delivered to your home and shown how to use the kit.
The equipment provided will be a combination of the below to support your monitoring:
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Scales to check your weight
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A blood pressure monitor
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A pulse oximeter, which checks your blood oxygen levels and pulse
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A thermometer to take your temperature
How do I contact the Virtual Ward Team?
You will be given all contact details on being admitted to the Virtual Ward.
We are open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm, with overnight cover provided by the teams on the Medical Receiving Unit (MRU) or the Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU). This ensures you have access to a healthcare professional when needed.
What happens if I feel unwell?
If seriously unwell you must call 111 or 999 immediately.
If unwell you can call the Virtual Ward Team and they will discuss your condition with the consulting team and notify you on the next courses of action.
What happens when I finish my care?
The aim is that you will be safely discharged to your GP on completion of your care. A Nurse will call to discuss and notify you of the discharge, and a discharge summary will be sent to you and your GP.
Patient Feedback
The Virtual Ward has been a huge success in delivering care at home, something we are incredibly proud of. We are always looking for ways to improve, so on discharge you will be asked to complete a short survey. We would very much welcome your feedback.
