CIRcUL is supporting the evaluation of the implementation of two Virtual Ward pilots - St Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH), Dublin and University Hospital Limerick (UHL).
Virtual Wards support patients who would otherwise be in hospital to receive the acute care, monitoring, and treatment they need in their own home (Health Service Executive, 2024). It is a safe and efficient alternative to HSE in-patient care that is enabled by technology (HSE, 2024). Using advanced remote monitoring technology, patients in a virtual ward receive the same level of hospital care from the multidisciplinary team who can provide a range of tests and treatments in the patients’ home (HSE, 2024). This can enable low-risk patients to return home from hospital sooner, supported by 24/7 health professional monitoring assisted by technology which makes inpatient beds available for those who need them more. The HSE expect that virtual wards will have a positive impact on patient care, healthcare services and health professionals (HSE, 2024).
In the United Kingdom benefits identified are better patient outcomes and a reduced strain on hospitals and internationally virtual wards are recognised as a practical and economical choice to hospital-based care (Norman et al. 2023).
In Quarter 2 2024, the HSE’s successfully launched the virtual ward programme in two sites. The service is currently available and managed at St Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH), Dublin and University Hospital Limerick (UHL). This exciting innovative HSE programme will support patients to receive care at home by expanding virtual services and leveraging digital technologies (HSE, 2024).