Tens of thousands of patients are set to benefit as the NHS announces it will expand the virtual ward programme so it covers children in every region of England this month.
The news, which follows successful pilots in Blackpool, Dudley and Dorset, means that people will be able to get hospital-level care in the comfort of their own home thus expediting recovery and relieving bed space.
The rollout is part of the wider plans to create an additional 10,000 virtual ward beds by the winter, further boosting home recovery and optimising capacity.
It also comes as figures show that the NHS has cared for over 160,000 adult patients in virtual wards since last April and more than 6,400 children in the last year.
The health service has also outlined its intention to expand the use of virtual wards to adults patients with heart or lung conditions.
Although initially welcoming to the news and recognising that virtual wards are an “important part of the solution” for waiting times, outright success will require more action, according to NHS Providers’ director of policy and strategy, Miriam Deakin.
“But success depends upon sufficient funding for vital new technology and equipment to enable smarter working providing cutting-edge care,” said Deakin. “Now that the long-term workforce plan for the NHS has been published, these services will need to be supported by giving NHS and care professionals skills in new technologies and new ways of working.”
She continued: “We must ensure too close engagement with patients and their families as new approaches to care are developed, making sure that new services are trusted by everyone and do not inadvertently exacerbate digital exclusion or health inequalities.”
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