Virtual ward

The Trust launched its virtual ward on Monday, 28 November 2022.

This is a new method of healthcare which helps patients to avoid coming into hospital or to return home sooner.

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.

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.

For more information, please contact 01284 713397.