Virtual Ward
Community Virtual Ward allows patients to receive hospital monitoring and treatment at home, offering a ‘Step Up’ service to prevent avoidable admissions to hospital.
The service is for patients over 18 and there are three treatment pathways: respiratory, frailty, and heart failure.We expect patients to be under the care of CommunityVirtual Ward for up to 14 days, depending on their treatment plans and recovery.
If suitable for virtual ward care, patients are trained how to use a device which sends continuous or intermittent observations including their breathing, heart rate, and skin temperature directly to the Community Virtual Ward team.
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Research shows that recovery is faster in familiar and comfortable surroundings, where patients can be supported by loved ones, eat their own food and sleep in their own bed.
As we expand this service across Norfolk and Waveney and we’ve got lots of exciting opportunities.
Join us and help to deliver vital care that keeps patients out of hospital.
Frequently asked questions
Community Virtual Ward is currently available to patients registered with a GP in Norwich, West Norfolk and East Norfolk. We hope to expand the service to the rest of Norfolk and Waveney in time.
The service is appropriate for patients over 18 with conditions including respiratory disease, frailty, and heart failure.
Patients in any community setting including community hospitals, residential care homes and nursing homes can also be referred.
Patients must be able to manage the remote monitoring technology with support.
Patients who cannot be referred to Community Virtual Ward include:
- Patients with no fixed abode
- Patients with advanced cognitive conditions who do not have the continuous support of family or carers
- Patients requiring intravenous therapy with a recent history of illicit intravenous drug misuse
- Patients with a presenting condition that require acute assessment or admission and are deemed unsafe to remain in a community setting
If you think you have patients who could be safely supported at home with the aid of monitoring technology and with Advanced Clinical Practitioners managing the clinical care (ACPs), please use the referral route as below.
We have an information leaflet about Community Virtual Ward for patients.
For more details about the Community Virtual Ward and to answer any additional questions you may have about the service contact:
Andrew Karrouze
NCH&C Community Virtual Ward Service Lead
Tel: 07891 878555
Email: andrew.karrouze@nchc.nhs.uk
Listen to the latest podcast
Service Lead Andrew Karrouze talks about Community Virtual Ward – an exciting new ‘step-up’ service toprevent avoidable admissions to hospital.