Sunak government unveils plan for ‘virtual’ hospital wards for the NHS

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Rishi Sunak’s government is set to announce plans to treat more than half a million patients a year in “virtual” hospital wards as part of a plan to reform urgent and emergency care.

The Department of Health and Social Care said around 50,000 elderly and vulnerable people could receive dedicated support at home each month, as part of a strategy to move some NHS care from overwhelmed hospitals.

About 3,000 virtual beds are planned to be created before next winter.

The plan comes amid a slew of reports that hospitals are struggling to cope due to severe pressure on staff, with nurses continuing to strike and as the row over wages and conditions continues.

The latest data shows delays in ambulance deliveries outside hospitals in England have fallen to their lowest level so far this winter, but one in five patients are still waiting at least half an hour to be transferred to A&E teams.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay claimed up to 20 per cent of hospital admissions could be avoided with the provision of appropriate care, and said the scheme would help “take pressure off” emergency services and extended incidents.

Mr Barclay said: “The Health and Care Service is under significant pressure and although there is no quick fix, we can take immediate action to reduce long waiting times for urgent and emergency care.” “By expanding the range of care provided in the community, the most vulnerable, frail and elderly patients can be better supported to continue living independently or recovering at home.

“This includes rolling out more services to help with falls and frailties, as well as supporting up to 50,000 patients per month to recover in the comfort of their own homes.”

The average wait for an ambulance due to heart attacks and strokes was 93 minutes in December, according to the latest figures – double the 43-minute wait in the previous month. More than 55,000 patients have had to wait at least 12 hours in A&E.

NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said the health service faced a “double pandemic” of influenza and COVID-19 during a difficult winter.

“Extensive pre-winter planning helped us boost capacity, from additional 111 and 999 call handlers to new Falls services and more beds, and we now aim to build on this progress to help accelerate care and improve patient experiences,” she said.

The government said the plan builds on virtual wards already in place on the NHS, which see patients treated from home while they are monitored by doctors either through daily visits or video calls.

The plan will see expanded use of immediate community response teams, with the hope of increasing the number of patients seen by healthcare staff within two hours.

The government indicated £14.1 billion is available for health and care services over the next two years, as announced in the autumn statement.

James Jamieson, chair of the Local Government Association, said: “We are pleased to see the focus on expanding health and community care services, recognizing the importance of treatment and recovery support to get people home after discharge from hospital.

“Cooperation and focus on results will be key factors for the successful implementation of the plan.”

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