One of the major reforms to attempt to reduce pressure on NHS services includes the introduction of virtual wards—some of which have been in place for several months and others that are in development in new areas.
To date, there are roughly 11,500 ‘beds’ within virtual wards, intended to help alleviate strain on limited resources, expedite the discharge of medically healthy patients, and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions, especially over the winter months when flu season often means wards are at capacity.
Guardian Angel Carers, an award-winning and sector-leading nationwide home care provider, shares some thoughts about how virtual wards might work, the relevance to the home care space, and some of the risks that healthcare and social care teams may need to be cautious of.
Virtual Wards: The Concept and Objectives
There is little doubt that change is vital, with so many families worried about extended waiting times for even simple procedures, tests, or check-ups, and those organising home care urgently since a loved one cannot be discharged from the hospital without the right care and support structure at home.
Likewise, we know that NHS services have been stretched too far for too long and that, given that many people find hospital settings distressing, remaining at home in a comfy, familiar environment is often beneficial to their health and well-being.
Developing virtual wards to work in tandem with conventional hospitals is designed to help discharge patients without compromising on ongoing supervision, where healthcare professionals recognise that many people recover faster at home.
However, the primary focus is to free up beds and capacity for patients in the greatest need, manage the larger demand for care as the population lives longer, healthier lives, and improve safety standards within hospitals and healthcare in general.
In terms of practicalities, virtual wards use technological monitoring, such as remote devices, to track blood pressure, heart health, and medication responses, amongst other metrics. Diagnostic equipment is allocated to a patient either on 'admission' to the virtual ward or on discharge following treatment or surgery.
Interventions can be triggered if patient data or readings are outside the normal range, not improving as expected, or if the patient or clinician has cause for concern—but, importantly, this isn’t a well-established method of care delivery, nor is it thought to be 100% effective.
The Formation of Virtual Wards From a Home Care Perspective
As home care professionals, we welcome innovation and can see that in some circumstances, virtual wards may be a far preferable solution, especially for adults who wish to recover or receive treatment at home or who otherwise feel that a hospital environment is an inevitability they would very much like to avoid.
One of the difficulties is that, although virtual wards are intended to form a bridge between community and secondary care, this relies heavily on having ample social care capacity.
We know from experience that this simply doesn't exist, with some areas facing huge gaps in availability, leaving families to look at making their own private care arrangements.
Other challenges and possible drawbacks may include:
Inequalities or exacerbated barriers to inclusion, where some demographics, age groups, and areas where people are disengaged or distrustful of mainstream NHS services may not participate in virtual ward supervision or feel that the reliance on technology excludes them from these services.
Lack of integration with current healthcare systems and records, where patient error using a monitoring device or missed communications between practitioners and providers could mean risks to patient welfare if there isn’t one central point of contact and observation.
Continuity of care may be lost if a patient speaks to a different professional or nurse each check-in or feels they have been 'abandoned’ without the in-person contact they may consider an important part of their care.
It’s also important to note that virtual wards carry costs, and although these are around 30% of the cost of a physical bed, there is still a need for nursing support, medications, patient data monitoring, and care reviews—without which a patient with an ongoing or chronic condition could fall through the gaps, particularly those with more complex health pictures or care needs.
Blending Professional Home Care With Virtual Wards
Aside from the logistics of virtual wards, we know that loneliness and isolation are serious issues for the older adult population, and even though most might prefer not to be admitted to a hospital for the long term, those living alone and without any face-to-face contact could suffer.
Guardian Angel Carers delivers a wide range of home care services, from live-in care and specialist support to palliative and respite care. One of the aspects of that assistance our care recipients and their families value most is the warmth, kindness, companionship, and familiarity our amazing care angels provide.
Knowing that a friendly carer is due to complete a visiting care slot on the same day or time each week, having help with food shopping or meal preparation, and having somebody to spend time with, or the comfort of an experienced carer to lend a hand with bedtime routines can be a huge reassurance and source of comfort.
Virtual wards have some compelling benefits and could indeed improve hospital capacities and waiting times. But without dependable and coordinated home care, there is a major risk that vulnerable adults could lose out on that all-important companionship, making the instances of isolation in our communities more profound.
Generally, we welcome the announcements and the news that investments in the NHS might make services better for all.
However, as a network that supports diverse families, partners and individuals in our communities, we cannot ignore the importance of social connections, company, and having a listening ear—where those left to manage alone and for whom living independently is becoming increasingly difficult are at risk of depression, anxiety, distress and poorer health outcomes, all of which could be avoided with a personalised care plan and regular in-person support.
Read more about Guardian Angel Carers - Guardian Angel Carers Highlights Access to Free Care Needs Assessments
About Guardian Angel Carers
Guardian Angel Carers is a leading home care provider dedicated to delivering compassionate, personalised care services. With a strong focus on independence, dignity, and quality of life, the company supports individuals in the comfort of their own homes, offering a range of services from companionship to complex care needs.
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Source Company – https://www.gacarers.co.uk/
