Digital Health recently reported that the NHS has expanded its virtual wards scheme and thousands of patients with heart failure will now be treated from home. Recent clinical guidance from the NHS has urged local health systems to broaden their virtual ward utilisation. This includes heart failure patients, a group that traditionally has had extended hospital stays. Now, these patients can access specialist care without stepping outside their front doors.
Heart failure is a pressing concern in the UK. Annually, approximately 200,000 individuals are diagnosed with this condition. Those grappling with this long-term ailment and requiring substantial NHS intervention account for a staggering 5% of all emergency hospital admissions related to the condition.
The NHS’s commitment to this initiative is evident. They achieved their ambitious goal of establishing 10,000 virtual ward beds just last month. Since April 2022, these virtual wards have been a beacon of hope for over 240,000 patients.
This avant-garde “hospital at home” service isn’t limited to heart failure. It has proven its mettle in treating respiratory issues and frailty. The benefits are manifold. Patients have reported shorter recovery times, and the strain on hospital beds has considerably reduced. These virtual wards are equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Patients are under the vigilant eyes of adept clinical staff, who monitor them continuously through virtual visits. These professionals harness the power of apps, wearables, and other medical devices to monitor patients’ vital signs closely. Moreover, they can conduct blood tests, prescribe essential medications, and even administer fluids through intravenous drips. This accelerates recovery and ensures that hospital beds are available for those in dire need.
Currently, about twelve heart failure virtual wards are operational. Noteworthy participants in this initiative include the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust. Their combined efforts have already benefited over 500 individuals. One such beneficiary, Colette Melia, 66, expressed her gratitude, stating that the virtual ward treatment felt like a “really personalised service.” Colette’s journey wasn’t straightforward. She had fluid overload due to heart damage and also battled Crohn’s disease. This made treating her acute heart failure challenging. However, the virtual ward team was undeterred. They meticulously reviewed her condition daily, either over the phone or through video calls. Advanced tech devices provided them with ECG readings and vital signs, and Colette could digitally log any symptoms she experienced.
Heart failure patients often grapple with other health issues, leading to prolonged hospital stays. Colette’s sentiment, “It gives you your life back,” resonates with many who have experienced the benefits of this service.
Professor Nick Linker, the national clinical director for heart disease at NHS England, shed light on the magnitude of the situation. He highlighted that an estimated 900,000 individuals in the UK live with heart failure. Many of them will need specialist intervention if their condition worsens. The virtual wards’ expansion ensures that, where clinically viable, more individuals can avail the care they need from their homes, reducing hospital admissions.
Echoing this sentiment, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, emphasised the timeliness of this expansion. With winter approaching, hospitals will face heightened pressure. These virtual wards will be instrumental in freeing up beds for those in dire need.
