The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published draft guidance on the use of virtual wards to treat patients with an acute respiratory infection.
The guidance states that people with an acute respiratory infection (ARI) could be monitored from their own homes using technology platforms that will feedback vital information on their condition to clinical staff. A patient’s temperature, heart rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and respiratory rate can all be monitored and fed back to healthcare professionals, often automatically.
The technology means that people can be discharged from hospital earlier or monitored from home without being admitted in the first place, freeing up hospital beds.
Evidence has also shown that virtual wards can be cost saving for the NHS. Analysis by NICE's external assessment group estimated the technologies saved around £872 per person compared with inpatient care, and £115 per person compared with care at home without a technology enabled virtual ward.
A consultation has now been opened on the recommendations, which will run until 1st September.
Mark Chapman, interim director of medical technology and digital evaluation at NICE, said: “The NHS is under pressure and giving people with an acute respiratory infection the chance to be monitored from the safety of their own home or care home can help manage capacity in hospitals.
“Evidence shows virtual wards are safe and can be an option for those who are comfortable using technology to have their condition monitored away from a hospital ward.
“Using these innovative new technology platforms within a carefully managed NHS environment will enable us to generate the evidence to understand the benefits to patients and the wider health system of using virtual wards.”
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “Virtual wards have fast become one of the NHS’ most important innovations, with nearly 10,000 virtual beds now in place and more than 210,000 patients already treated, maximising use of the latest technology, and it is encouraging that NICE recognises these benefits and is now recommending their use for acute respiratory infections.
“They can also make a real difference ahead of winter when we know viruses can pile considerable pressure onto NHS services, which is precisely why virtual wards are a key component of our winter planning measures so more people can be treated comfortably from their own home – including patients with acute respiratory infections – while freeing up vital hospital beds.”
