Guidance, resources and opportunities to learn from others delivering virtual wards, will support integrated care systems (ICSs) and service providers to establish or expand virtual wards in their areas.

• guidance for integrated care systems (ICSs)
• supporting guidance on implementing virtual wards
• other guidance
• networks and communities of practice
• evidence
• resources for families and carers

Guidance and supporting information

Guidance for integrated care systems (ICSs):

• access to diagnostics on virtual wards
• supporting clinical leadership in virtual wards
• supporting information for ICS leads– helps with strategic and financial decisions on virtual ward planning and implementation

Supporting guidance on implementing virtual wards:

• supporting guidance – an overview on setting up or expanding virtual wards
• for acute respiratory infection virtual wards
• for hospital at home virtual wards for people living with frailty
• caring for people with heart failure on virtual wards – guidance
• a useful high-level summary of this guidance from NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time team
• integrating in vitro point of care diagnostics: guidance for urgent community response and virtual ward services
• guidance on selecting and procuring a technology platform
• guidance on managing medical equipment within virtual wards

Other guidance:

• setting up virtual wards enabled by technology using a digital platform such as an app or website
• information governance
• capabilities framework (on Skills for Health’s website)

Networks and communities of practice

• join the FutureNHS virtual wards space
• past virtual wards community of practice webinars are available to watch again on FutureNHS
• Dr Shelagh O’Riordan, Consultant Community Geriatrician and Professional Advisor at NHS England shares her tips in a blog for clinical teams setting up a frailty virtual ward and explains why clinicians should register their place for the virtual ward clinical summits.

Evidence

There is growing evidence that shows virtual wards are a safe and efficient alternative to being in hospital, for patients living with a range of conditions, such as frailty.

Helpful resources include:

• rapid evaluation report: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease virtual ward enabled by technology – South and West Hertfordshire Health and Care Partnership
• Norman, G et al. Virtual Wards: a rapid evidence synthesis and implications for the care of older people, Age Ageing
• comparison of hospital-at-home models: a systematic review of reviews, BMJ Open
• The Hospital at Home Society research summary
• a longer catalogue of evidence is available on FutureNHS (login required).

Resources for families and carers

• Carers UK’s carers checklist and advocacy guide are designed to help carers to better understand what to expect and how to prepare for supporting the person they care for on a virtual ward.
• exploring the work of older people and their informal caregivers in managing an acute health event in a Hospital at Home setting.

You may also be interested in:

• new e-learning to help clinicians gain an understanding of implementing and running a virtual ward that is enabled by technology
• NHS Digital Centre of Excellence resources for virtual wards
• The Hospital at Home Society
• frailty e-learning module