NHS Expands Home Treatment Tech

The NHS in Kent is significantly expanding its use of technology to provide hospital-level care to patients in their own homes. Medway Maritime Hospital has enhanced its virtual ward service, increasing capacity from 80 to 120 virtual beds and aiming to reach 200. This initiative allows healthcare professionals to manage a wider range of medical conditions remotely.

Patients are experiencing improved outcomes and maintaining independence through this virtual care model. Health workers conduct patient rounds virtually, monitoring vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure, and reviewing test results via video consultations. While much care is remote, some tasks, like administering antibiotics via controlled-release containers, involve home visits.

This hospital-at-home technology is also being utilized by Kent Community NHS Foundation Trust. Furthermore, a consultant geriatrician in the South East Coast Ambulance Service control room assesses first responder data to prioritize emergency calls. This integrated approach unites community, ambulance, and hospital services to deliver care efficiently where patients need it most.