Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Background In 2023 Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) undertook an evaluation to better understand inpatient bed capacity. Hayward House, NUH’s specialist palliative care unit, was identified as an area that would benefit from an innovative solution due to its constant waiting list. To address this unmet need, the palliative medicine speciality decided to pilot a 6-bed palliative care virtual ward (PCVW) which opened in February 2024 Method An evaluation of the (PCVW) was carried out to provide overview of service impact. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered and analysed detailing service use, alongside feedback sought from patients and families, as well as primary and secondary care teams on their respective experience of the Virtual ward pathway. Results Between February 2024 and October 2024, the PCVW admitted 44 patients. There were 24 ‘step-down’ patients, admitted from inpatient beds and 20 ‘step-up’ patients, admitted from the community. 22 patients died on the PCVW, 9 were discharged to community teams, and 11 were transferred to Hayward House. One patient was electively admitted to hospital but later transferred to Hayward House. There were no unplanned or emergency admissions to hospital; all but 2 patients achieved their preferred place of care and death. Feedback from patients, families, and staff was overwhelmingly positive and identified the service as ‘invaluable, supportive, and reassuring’ enabling patient centred care at home. Conclusions The virtual ward has enabled patients to get home sooner or stay at home longer offering care that historically would require inpatient admission. Ultimately the PCVW has offered patient choice whilst delivering inpatient level care, empowering patients to be cared for and die in their preferred setting.
Source: Poster presentations
Institution: Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4408550465