The future of healthcare: Exploring the benefits of virtual wards

The Health Tech Alliance explains the importance of digital and technological innovations, particularly virtual wards, in supporting NHS healthcare providers

Amid budget restraints, staff shortages and an ageing population, the NHS is under immense pressure, and cracks are beginning to show – resulting in waiting lists of inexplicable size.

HealthTech innovations of many shapes and sizes, in and out of hospitals, can truly alleviate the burden on hospitals and improve patient care. A key example of these innovations is virtual wards, which allow patients to get hospital-level care at home safely, helping speed up their recovery while freeing up hospital beds for patients that need them most. Whilst adoption is never that simple, nor should virtual wards be prioritised over other types of innovations, their potential should be exploited more than it currently is.

If the Government wants to stabilise the backlog of patients and treatments in the NHS then they need to look to support the adoption of innovative long-term technologies rather than scale back the existing (and, in many ways, working) mechanisms we currently have. The MedTech Funding Mandate and the AI in Health and Care Award were welcomed and applauded by the industry and offered one of the only ways for proven medical technologies to be adopted at speed across the system.

Recently, we have seen both being scaled back, going against the rhetoric of the current Government, which seems to suggest innovative technology to be a priority. The NHS needs to see two things to happen to truly grasp the potential of innovation:

• Rework the funding model for HealthTech
• Stop exclusively prioritising in-hospital care

Virtual Wards: Enhancing patient experience and cutting waiting lists

Through the use of remote monitoring and telemedicine, patients have increased engagement in their own care, fostering a sense of autonomy. Simultaneously, healthcare professionals can monitor patients’ conditions, provide support, and deliver necessary medical interventions without the need for hospitalisation or repeat appointments. There are several successful examples of virtual wards in the UK that have demonstrated the potential benefits.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) early value assessment study on Virtual Ward Platform Technologies showed that these technologies are cost-effective, with an estimated £872 per person compared with inpatient care and by £115 per person compared with care at home without a virtual ward. Due to the cost model being platform agnostics, the range of savings could change depending on the technology. (1)

Virtual wards are a viable solution to reducing waiting lists, hospital bed admissions and appointments, consequently freeing up clinicians’ valuable time. In a recent study presented by the University of Leicester at the British Cardiovascular Society conference, where patients with a fast heart rate from atrial fibrillation were asked to submit information via an app, the team found that 127 unplanned hospitalisations were prevented and 444 days in hospital saved. (2)

Another successful example of virtual ward tech is a monitoring and management tool for kidney patients. The tool provides patients with a transparent overview of their most recent test results and therapy progress following dialysis treatment. By allowing patients to monitor their health status and share data efficiently with their healthcare provider, this results in early detection and intervention and prevents an escalation to the point of emergency care crisis. This, therefore, reduces emergency hospital visits and delayed diagnosis, and enhances the communication between patients and healthcare providers. (3)

Globally, virtual wards are also being successfully rolled out. One of our members shared Northern Health’s virtual ward success in Australia. Using cloud technology, they have been able to minimise the backlog on emergency service waiting lists by launching a digital front door solution. The service transformed patient registration and clinical tracking to reduce the number of unnecessary hospital admissions. (4)

These case studies highlight the diverse applications of virtual wards in different healthcare settings and disease areas. They demonstrate the potential of virtual wards to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs and enhance the overall quality of care within the NHS. However, the Government’s reluctance to support the adoption of MedTech innovations means it has become an almost chronically underutilised area of healthcare.

Funding technological innovations across the system

The much-welcomed NHSE’s Delivery Plan for recovering urgent and emergency services committed to an “expansion of virtual wards”. Following this, the Health Foundation commissioned a survey to explore what the public opinion was.

The UK public was supportive (by 45% to 36%), with a further 19% unsure. Interestingly, and perhaps being the key point here, support for virtual wards was higher among disabled people and those with a carer – both groups have greater need to use the health system, and, as outlined by the Health Foundation, “expected to be more intensive users of virtual wards”. 71% of the public were also open to being treated through a virtual ward under the right circumstances. NHS staff was also clearly supportive of virtual wards (by 63% to 31%). (5)

Having outlined the positive public and NHS staff attitude as well as clear data on economic savings, it begs the question why virtual wards are not rolled across the country more rapidly in efforts to allow care quicker. This is because virtual wards as a health technology, despite being utilised outside of hospitals, falls at the same hurdle as thousands of other potentially lifesaving health technologies – the slow, frustrating, and near-impossible system of adopting technologies within the NHS.

We have estimated that it takes approximately 17 years for a technology to be adopted within the NHS, so we cannot possibly expect the innovations to keep up to speed on current needs. One of the most significant challenges which limit the uptake of technology innovation in the NHS is the intransigent spending mechanisms due to CapEX / OPEX restrictions.

IT budgets in the NHS are entirely CapEX, and, as a
result, there is a lack of spending flexibility to purchase technology innovations such as cloud computing. Although NHS staff are committed to delivering excellent patient care, the lack of funding and the complicated infrastructure hinder the implementation of virtual wards.

The Government talks about digitising the NHS, but lack of reimbursement and long-term funding impede the rollout of virtual wards. NHSE aims to have over 10,000 virtual ward beds by winter to alleviate the pressure on hospitals and reduce the backlog. Policymakers must ensure that digital technologies receive the necessary funding to become a strategic investment, leading to improved patient care, optimised resource allocation, and long-term cost savings. The prompt adoption of technology and digital solutions, along with investment in training for healthcare professionals, is essential for seamless implementation.

At a time of rapid technological advancement, technological innovation has the potential to revolutionise the delivery of healthcare services within the NHS. With the right investments and infrastructure, virtual wards and MedTech in general can become a vital component of the NHS, ensuring high-quality care for all patients while optimising resources by moving point of care to communities. By embracing health technology, the NHS can embark on a transformative journey, ensuring a sustainable and patient-centred healthcare system for the future.

References

1. The economic model used a 30-day time horizon and included the costs associated with a virtual ward, such as: licence costs, monitoring equipment delivery, maintenance and home setup home visits, outpatient appointments, emergency hospital attendances, hospital admissions calls to 111. Source: Consultation | Virtual Ward Platform Technologies for acute respiratory infections | Guidance | NICE
2.  Digitally enabled acute care for atrial fibrillation: conception, feasibility and early outcomes of an AF virtual ward | Open Heart (bmj.com)
3. https://www.freseniusmedicalcare.co.uk/en-gb/media/insights/patient- stories/smart-companion
4. Northern Health Case Study | Amazon Web Services
5. https://www.health.org.uk/news-and-comment/charts-and-infographics/ how-do-the-public-and-NHS-staff-feel-about-virtual-wards