Natalie Duffield of Inhealthcare discusses the advantages of the company’s virtual wards and advanced remote monitoring technologies in enhancing patient care
Judged by patient feedback, the launch of Inhealthcare’s tech-enabled virtual ward to provide acute care safely and conveniently at home has been a resounding success for North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust (NWAngliaFT). The trust reported a remarkable 98% score for patient satisfaction among those admitted to the virtual ward for conditions including heart failure, infection, respiratory diseases, and stroke. The approach is gaining traction, with up to 20 patients per day choosing to join the virtual ward under the care of a consultant-led clinical team.
Judged by patient feedback, the launch of Inhealthcare’s tech-enabled virtual ward to provide acute care safely and conveniently at home has been a resounding success for North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust (NWAngliaFT). The trust reported a remarkable 98% score for patient satisfaction among those admitted to the virtual ward for conditions including heart failure, infection, respiratory diseases, and stroke. The approach is gaining traction, with up to 20 patients per day choosing to join the virtual ward under the care of a consultant-led clinical team.
It’s not just patients who are benefiting. Powered by Inhealthcare’s cutting-edge technologies, the virtual ward went live in January and has already achieved impressive results in the first six months of operation:
- 596 patients successfully admitted to the virtual ward
- 2,300 bed days saved, freeing up vital hospital resources
- £810,000 cost savings, demonstrating significant financial benefits.
These figures highlight the potential of tech-enabled virtual wards to transform healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes, and reduce strain on hospital resources.
Wearable health devices
As NHS trusts across England are rolling out virtual wards with various models and approaches, NWAngliaFT is pioneering the use of wearable devices for patients admitted to its virtual ward. This forward-thinking approach is made possible by its partnership with Inhealthcare, a leading UK provider of digital health and remote monitoring technologies.
NWAngliaFT’s wearable devices are Bluetooth-enabled and use state-of- the-art sensors to continuously monitor vital signs and provide actionable insights on patient care. Devices seamlessly connect to the patient’s smartphone, which uses the Inhealthcare app to transmit readings securely to the trust’s clinical team in real time.
Ms Donnelly explained: “We’ve received overwhelmingly good feedback from patients using the devices. They wear them comfortably on their chests, allowing us to monitor their NEWS2 observations in real-time. This includes physiological measurements like respiration rate, oxygen saturation, systolic blood pressure, blood pressure, pulse rate, level of consciousness, and temperature. The system is very flexible – we can set the device to review every five seconds, five minutes, or 15 minutes, depending on what’s needed for each patient.”
This level of customisation and real-time monitoring enables the virtual ward team to closely track patients’ conditions and respond swiftly to any changes or concerns. Ms Donnelly added: “If a patient reports not feeling well, we can immediately see their vital signs and adjust the monitoring regime if needed. We receive alerts if their readings go outside the set range, which we customise for each patient. This proactive approach allows us to intervene early if necessary, potentially preventing complications and improving outcomes.”
The virtual ward team uses a large screen in their office to display a comprehensive dashboard of visualised patient data. This setup allows for constant monitoring and quick responses to any alerts, ensuring that patients receive the same level of attention and care they would in a traditional hospital setting.
Ms Donnelly said: “Virtual wards are a relatively new concept for many hospitals. We initially started with individual devices like blood pressure cuffs and thermometers, but we quickly recognised the superior efficiency and effectiveness of integrated wearable devices.”
Before the launch of virtual wards, the patients would have been in hospital. Instead, they are able to recover at home while receiving hospital-level care.
Hannah Woods, the lead nurse for the virtual ward, highlighted the flexibility and reassurance the system provides to both patients and healthcare providers. She said: “While we don’t need to monitor all patients constantly, as we wouldn’t do that in a traditional hospital environment, our system gives patients the peace of mind that although they’re not physically in hospital, they are being closely monitored by experienced healthcare professionals.”
Home-based care
The virtual ward has demonstrated significant potential in creating additional capacity and improving patient flow for the trust. This approach to healthcare delivery is particularly valuable in the context of increasing pressure on NHS resources and the growing demand for personalised, home-based care options.
Dr Deyo Okubadejo, lead clinician for virtual wards at NWAngliaFT, said: “There are far more benefits for patients who are medically appropriate to be monitored and regularly contacted from the comfort of their home, rather than in a hospital bed. These include patients being less likely to acquire an infection or experience a decline in functionality if they are in their own home surroundings.
“Our virtual ward provides the safety and security of professional clinical care, delivered within a familiar and safe setting for the patient. Virtual wards have massive potential as a fourth dimension of care with patients at home, alongside primary, secondary, and community care.”
The success of NWAngliaFT’s virtual ward aligns with broader trends in patient preferences and technology adoption.
NHS Confederation survey results
According to a 2023 survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the NHS Confederation, the majority of people would be willing to use health technology if it meant they could avoid hospital admission. More than seven in ten respondents expressed willingness to use technology, including wearable and health monitoring devices, to better manage and monitor their health. Importantly, they also indicated a willingness to share the data gathered with their doctors and other medical professionals.
On behalf of Inhealthcare, we are incredibly proud to partner with North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust in pioneering the future of NHS care through advanced remote monitoring and wearable devices. Our technology is designed to help patients return home sooner, reduce delays in transfers of care, and free up valuable hospital beds for the most urgent cases.
