Our virtual ward helps patients get hospital-level care at home.
It means you may not need to come into hospital, or you can go home sooner. Our team will support you with care, checks and treatment while you stay in your own home.
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Services we provide
The virtual ward uses technology to monitor the vital signs of its patients while they continue their recovery at home.
The monitoring device transmits information such as blood pressure and oxygen levels to the virtual ward hub at the West Suffolk Hospital in real-time. This allows the Trust’s consultant/medical, nursing and therapy teams to observe a patient’s progress to ensure that once well enough, they can be discharged from the pathway or come into hospital should they need further care.
While on the pathway, patients are supplied with a kit that allows the virtual ward team to communicate with the patient via instant messaging or video-call. This does not require a home Wi-Fi connection as the kit comes with a unit which connects with the hub.
Patients on the virtual ward are supported by our community teams of nurses and therapists who ensure they receive the treatments they need at home.
Who is eligible for the virtual ward?
The virtual ward is currently working to expand the type of patients it can care for. However, patients on the below pathways are currently eligible for a possible transfer to the virtual ward following referral by your clinician:
- Frailty
- Heart failure
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Intravenous antibiotics
- Acute kidney injury.
Contact the virtual ward team
For more information, please contact 01284 713397.