Virtual wards (“hospital at home”) is an established pathway for many medical conditions in respiratory and cardiac medicine and also to a lesser extent in surgery. The Government is encouraging engagement and setting targets for Integrated Care Systems (ICS’s) to adopt these pathways in an effort to reduce pressure on hospital beds.
This webinar discussed the possible value of the virtual ward concept with two companies who are providing support nationally. We welcomed Huma and Spirit Health and associated clinical teams to inform us of progress so far and report on any pilot studies to date.
We were joined by Dr Elizabeth Kendrick who will share learning from the post operative orthopaedic pilot at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust along with some hints and tips about how to take services forward.
This will be of interest to clinicians in primary and secondary care and hospital managers from either an ICS or a Trust.
Cormac Kelly, NOA Clinical Advisor and Webinar Lead
Speakers include:
– Alex Gilbert, Business Development Director, Companion MedTech, Huma
– Dr Noel O’Kelly, Medical Director, Spirit Health
– Dr Elizabeth Kendrick, Medical Director, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
– more speakers TBC
The session ended with a busy question and answer session. You can read the Q&A report here.
Further information on this event, including the presentations, is available to NOA members in the Members Only Area of the website. (You will need to have registered for the Members Only Area to gain access)
You can keep up to date with upcoming webinars and other NOA activity by subscribing to our newsletter
Virtual Wards Community of Practice
26 January 2023 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Virtual (Microsoft Teams)
Join NHS England’s virtual wards weekly community of practice webinars. These sessions are open to all clinicians, wider virtual ward teams, ICS, and regional colleagues with an interest in virtual wards. Over the coming months we will be inviting a variety of clinicians, managers, and other experts to share their learning and experiences to support you with implementing and developing virtual wards.
- 26/01/2023 – Setting up pharmacy services for virtual wards
- 02/02/2023 – Planning guidance for 23/24
- 09/02/2023 – Deep dive into point of care testing for virtual wards
Read more and register here: Virtual Wards Community of Practice
What’s next for virtual wards? Innovative new pathways for the NHS, Spirit Health
10 February 2023 1:00pm – 2:00pm
We’ve seen virtual ward success first-hand for conditions such as frailty, COPD and COVID-19. But now it’s time to think about how virtual wards can be scaled to transform patient care across other clinical areas.
2022 was a big year for the rollout of virtual wards all over the country. But what’s next? Read more and register here: What’s next for virtual wards? Innovative new pathways for the NHS, Spirit Health
Virtual Wards Clinical Summit, NHS England
23 February 2023 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Virtual (Microsoft Teams)
As more virtual wards are set up across England, the virtual ward clinical summit offers clinicians involved in delivering virtual wards an opportunity to share and accelerate learning and best practice.
Building on the success of NHS England’s first two virtual wards clinical summits, this third clinical summit will support clinicians and wider teams to deliver or develop their virtual wards allowing increasing numbers of patients to be treated at home. Read more and register here: NHS England – Virtual Wards Clinical Summit