Resources, guidance and networks
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):
- 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
- 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
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