Virtual Ward

Types of patients regularly seen

The STW operated 5 main clinical pathways: Heart failure, Acute Respiratory Infection, Frailty, General Medical and Surgical.

The list below demonstrates patients cohorts who would likely most benefit from an alternative to hospital admission:

• Care Home residents.

• Patients who are housebound.

• Patients who have a package of care.

• Frequent hospital attenders (two or more admissions last 6 months).

• Any patient who is deemed to be suitable for an advance care plan to say they should be for community-based care only or the patient does not wish to go to hospital.

• Those who would benefit from assisted hydration (e.g. subcutaneous fluids).

• Patients who need oral antibiotics but close monitoring.

• Patients who need urgent blood monitoring to be stepped down from hospital or in the community (for example monitoring of inflammatory markers or electrolytes).

• Patients on palliative care/ End of Life register, but not in terminal phase. Or patients who are more appropriate to palliate given clinical history and presentation.

• Patients who can be weaned off nebulised therapy in the community or require nebulised therapy in the community.

• Certain patients who may find admission distressing (e.g., Advanced Dementia, Learning Disability).

• Patients already under community teams or recently seen by Virtual Ward.

• Patients with acute exacerbations of chronic disease.

About Virtual Ward

Virtual Ward provide consultant led care to a patient in their own home. The team consist of Doctors, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Pharmacists, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Paramedics, and Support workers.

The Virtual Ward service is open to all patients over the age of 18 who are registered with a Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin GP, regardless of where they live.

Virtual Wards (also known as hospital at home or NHS@home) allow patients to get hospital level care at home safely and in familiar surroundings, helping speed up their recovery while freeing up hospital beds for patients that need them the most.

Those cared for on Virtual Wards are looked after by a multidisciplinary team led by a Consultant Physician. Patients are managed by a combination of house visits, video calls, telephone calls and remote monitoring solutions. The clinical team formulate an appropriate management plan to try to limit the patient’s time in hospital or to prevent admission to hospital.

The patient can remain on the Virtual Ward (VW) for a period of up to 14 days.

The service operates across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin between the hours of 0800-2000hrs, 7 days a week.