PPL for NHS England
This evaluation of Virtual Wards was commissioned by NHS England and undertaken by PPL
This is a thorough assessment of virtual ward beds across six Integrated Care Systems in the South East. These ‘beds’ provided 1.939 avoided admissions or early discharges from hospital.
The report documents a significant positive impact on non-elective hospital activity and positive net financial benefits.
The positive impact grows over time as use of virtual wards increases and costs per admission start to fall.
On the downside, the report notes a consistent under-representation of black and minority ethnic people in virtual ward patient cohorts. This has to be addressed if the innovation of virtual ward care is not to widen inequalities gaps.
Health for Living finds this analysis to be a useful contribution as there are lessons to be learned in this aspect of acute care for the cohort in which we are primarily addressing: those who are managing one or more long-term conditions at home so they can enjoy more years in good health and live independently for longer.
