Virtual ward pathways

We are experts in virtual wards, setting up our first virtual ward with the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in 2019. We can help set up your virtual ward and maximise occupancy.

Our multi-disciplinary teams are built around clinicians with backgrounds in both acute and community care, who are experienced in delivering clinical care in the home. We are also able to provide wrap around care in the home.  

How does a virtual ward work? 

In the virtual ward model, clinical responsibility lies with the patient’s consultant, GP or primary care lead who our team continuously feed back to about each patient’s care plan.

Our virtual ward services include:  

• An on-site team managed by a Clinical and Operational Lead co-ordinates patient care from the hospital, liaising with the consultant 
• A community-based team provides in-person clinical care in the patient’s home (or other place of residence) complimenting remote monitoring, where used. Typically, visits are scheduled between 7am and 10pm, seven days a week. 
• A 24/7 on-call service provides patients with immediate access to senior clinicians.  
• Continuous or intermittent remote monitoring communicates patient information to the hospital. We have relationships with a number of leading providers of remote monitoring equipment, both intermittent and continuous, which can be included into our service. Alternately, we are happy to use equipment already purchased by the NHS.  
• Real-time reporting enables performance to be regularly tracked against key performance indicators (KPIs). 

HomeLink Healthcare follows and adheres to the virtual ward guidance provided by NHS England.

What types of patients are suitable for virtual wards? 

Our virtual wards provide care at home for patients who have been in hospital, often with an acute exacerbation of a chronic condition or following an operation. Virtual ward patients are also those identified as being at risk of admission to hospital. We support people in a variety of pathways, including respiratory, cardiac, orthopaedic and frailty.