The NHS stands at a critical crossroads. With an ageing population and rising demand for urgent care, traditional models of healthcare can no longer meet the needs of our communities. The government’s 10-Year Health Plan sets out an ambitious vision for a sustainable, high-quality health and care system; one that is digitally enabled, community-focused, and fundamentally proactive.
Virtual Wards are central to this transformation.
By delivering acute-level care in people’s homes, Virtual Wards offer a glimpse of a future where technology and multidisciplinary teamwork combine to provide personalised, preventative care. This approach moves beyond reactive treatment and towards a model that prioritises early intervention and continuity of care.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of Virtual Wards, but their true potential remains largely untapped, with Virtual Wards remaining largely in the pilot phase. Scaling these services requires more than technology, it demands cultural change, robust infrastructure, and collaboration across the entire health care system.
This White Paper draws on our extensive experience working with Virtual Ward programmes over the last few years and explores the opportunities and challenges of embedding Virtual Wards within the NHS at scale in line with the three shifts.
In doing so we highlight the importance of a robust data infrastructure, integrated neighbourhood teams and a vigilant focus on population health management. It also recognises that success will depend on collaboration across the entire health and care ecosystem: clinicians, operational leaders, technology partners and crucially patients and communities themselves. We hope this report serves as a guide for leaders in navigating the complexities of Virtual Wards from pilot to scaling.
“As we look to the future, the scaling of Virtual Wards represents more than a technological innovation; it is a commitment to delivering care that is closer to home, more responsive to individual needs, and better equipped to prevent ill health before it escalates.” Sarah Pinto-Duschinsky, Managing Partner.
To find out more download our report here: Scaling Virtual Wards: Supporting the 10 Year Plan
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