Hospitals across Birmingham and Solihull have introduced virtual wards, also knows as hospital at home, to help patients recover more quickly in the comfort of their own home where they want to be.
A virtual ward brings care into a patient's own home, providing them with access to health and care staff remotely as well as the medical equipment that they need.
For many patients, it is much better for them to be in the comfort of their own home with family and friends rather than being in hospital.
Evidence also shows that people recover more quickly when they're at home.
Patients can be referred to a virtual ward to avoid an admission into hospital or when they're discharged from hospital sooner to continue their treatment at home.
This also includes care home residents.
Virtual ward surveys is consultant led and normally comprises of multidisciplinary team members and supported by technology.
Virtual ward teams monitor patients in a number of ways, which can include telephone calls, home visits, and digital monitoring kits.
These kits may include a device to monitor their heart rate, oxygen levels, skin temperature, blood pressure, and any other devices that we feel the patient may need.
The results recorded are sent automatically via a mobile phone or a tablet, or patients and their carers or their families will be asked to input them manually.
Each virtual ward consists of doctors and nurses, therapists, and pharmacists.
Each day, the team will meet together to discuss a patient's care and their steps to recovery.
Only a clinician can refer to the virtual ward and not all patients will be suitable.
So when a patient is submitted to the virtual ward, they will be given them medication equipment and contact details for the team.
The team will then ensure that everything they need is set up and working, and will also inform their GP that they are on the virtual ward.
If the patient's conditions worsens or their results raise concerns, the team may visit them and refer them back to the care of their local hospital.
The team will discharge the patient when they are ready back into the care of their GP.
They will also contact any community services that might be ne needed.
More information on the virtual wards can be found on the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System website, or by their local GP.
The website address for the integrated care system will be shown at the end of this video.
Virtual wards accept referrals from a range of clinicians from across acute, community and urgent community response services.
Virtual wards aim to support people at home when they become ill to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions or A and E attendances, and it is also there to support early discharge from hospital to help people recover at home.
