Acute virtual wards treating heart patients at home

An NHS trust has launched a new acute virtual
ward for stroke patients and people with heart and respiratory conditions to
receive care at home.
The virtual wards scheme is being trialled by
hospitals across England to try to alleviate pressure on emergency wards and
ambulance services.
Northwest Anglia Foundation Trust (NWAFT),
which runs Peterborough City Hospital, Hinchingbrooke Hospital and Stamford and
Rutland, said up to 20 patients per day are choosing to join the virtual
service.
A consultant-led clinical team has treated
more than 250 patients since December.
The service offers recovering patients a
chance to return home with simple devices for measuring vital signs like blood
pressure, blood oxygen level and weight.
Patients supply readings up to three times
per day and receive regular check-in calls from nurses.
They spend an average of four days on the
virtual ward before being discharged or transferred to primary care.
Dr Deyo Okubadejo, lead clinician for virtual wards, said: “There are far more benefits
for patients who are medically appropriate to be monitored and regularly
contacted from the comfort of their home, rather than in a hospital bed.
"These include patients being less
likely to acquire an infection or experience a decline in functionality if they
are in their own home surroundings.
“Our virtual ward is able to provide the
safety and security of professional clinical care, provided within a familiar
and safe setting for the patient."
Comments
Post a Comment