More patients than ever in the South East are reaping the benefits of virtual wards and Hospital at Home innovations, new data can reveal.

Analysis by NHS England South East shows that, in 2024, there were over 85,000 admissions to virtual wards across the South East, an 18% increase from 2023. Over 175,000 patients have been cared for in the South East since the Virtual Ward Programme began in April 2022, more than any other region in England.

The data confirms the region’s commitment to ensuring patients receive care in the most appropriate and convenient setting to aid their recovery, with virtual wards enabling patients to be discharged safely and quickly to receive hospital-standard care and monitoring from home.

In the South East, there are over 2,000 virtual ward ‘beds’ with teams of healthcare professionals providing face-to-face and remote care thanks to cutting-edge technology, as the NHS focuses on moving care from hospitals into the community.

Virtual wards have many benefits for patients including improving patient outcomes and improving patients’ experience of healthcare. They have also been shown to prevent hospital admissions and attendance and provide a cost-effective alternative to care, meaning hospital beds are available for those who require in-hospital care, helping the NHS respond to continued growing demand.*

NHS England South East’s Medical Director for System Improvement and Professional Standards, Dr Shahed Ahmad, said:

“Virtual wards have an important role to play in shifting care from hospitals into the community and supporting the best outcomes for patients. We can now  provide care for a much greater range and number of patients in their own homes, instead of them needing to be admitted to a hospital.

“We know that, by supporting patients to recover at home safely with home comforts and friends and family close by, they can regain their independence and recover well.

“We are incredibly proud of the world-leading virtual wards across the South East, with staff doing a brilliant job, using state of the art technology to monitor patients and provide regular check-ins. It’s a fantastic example of the system working together to provide the best outcomes for patients.”

Analysis of the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West (BOB) ICB’s virtual wards / hospital at home programme has shown it has effectively treated thousands of patients, with it significantly reducing the need for emergency services within 28 days of discharge, particularly for older patients. The programme treats unwell patients with a range of conditions outside the hospital setting, including providing assessments, medications, scans and blood tests where required. It has also helped reduce emergency admission rates, with these falling by 73% for adults and 85% for children.**

Other patients across the South East who have received care within a virtual ward have shared their experiences of receiving care at home via a virtual ward and the benefits.

Elizabeth, 80, was treated on a virtual ward by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust after contacting 111 feeling unwell. The Hospital at Home team carried out a clinical assessment and diagnosed pneumonia. Elizabeth received intravenous antibiotics and monitoring in her own team and was able to recover at home, avoiding a trip to hospital.

Elizabeth, Hospital at Home patient, Frimley, said: “If you go into hospital, at my age, you might catch something else. It is much more relaxing at your own home because you can go to bed, have a cup of coffee or whatever whenever you want.’’

Michael received care from East Sussex virtual ward after calling 999 with briefing difficulties. After being referred to the virtual wards team they were able to carry out an assessment and ongoing monitoring both face to face and remotely, ensuring Michael avoided hospital and could stay at home.

Michael said: “They gave me a blood pressure (monitor) which was put on my arm and controlled by an iPad […] completely easy – no problem, whatsoever. The other thing is I felt I was in contact all the time, which I was.”

• Data taken from the NHS National Virtual Wards SitRep – 2-weekly sitrep
• * NHS England » Virtual wards operational framework
• ** Thousands effectively treated by hospital at home services, according to new evaluation | BOB ICB / Hospital at Home evaluation – Health Innovation Oxford & Thames Valley