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 and supporting information

• Supporting clinical leadership in virtual wards – a guide for integrated care system clinical leaders
• Supporting information for ICS leads: enablers for success: virtual wards including hospital at home – helps ICSs with their strategic and financial decisions on virtual ward planning and implementation
• Supporting guidance on maximising the roll-out of virtual wards, including Hospital at Home – supports implementation and covers definitions, principles, funding and staffing
• Guidance on introducing and expanding acute respiratory infection virtual wards
• Guidance on introducing or expanding Hospital at Home virtual wards for people living with frailty
• Guidance on how to set up a technology-enabled virtual ward using a digital platform such as an app or website
• Guidance focusing on information governance
• Virtual wards and urgent community response capabilities framework (on Skills for Health’s website)

Networks and communities of practice

• The virtual wards community of practice webinar takes place from 12 noon every Thursday. To join, register your place online.
• Join the NHSFutures virtual wards space
• 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.

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
• Exploring the work of older people and their informal caregivers in managing an acute health event in a Hospital at Home setting
• Blog from Tara Donnelly, Director of Digital Care Models and Matthew Winn, NHS England on NHS providers
• The Hospital at Home Society
• Frailty e-learning module