Virtual ward praised for boosting patient’s recovery at home

A long-serving NHS worker-turned patient has thanked Medway Maritime Hospital’s virtual ward team for helping her get back on her feet, in familiar surroundings at home, after a major operation.

Carole Jordan, aged 62 from Chatham, spent just two days in hospital following a hip replacement. She praised virtual ward staff for their “kind care” and “professionalism.”

Patients using the hospital’s virtual ward are cared for by the Surgical, Medical and Acute Recovery Team (SMART Team) which is made up of nurses, consultants and therapists who provide a range of nursing, therapy care and remote monitoring using state-of-the-art technology. This allows patients to continue their recovery at home safely and conveniently, rather than being in hospital.

Last year the SMART Team (some of the team are pictured above) played a major role in helping the NHS deliver its national ambition of rolling out 10,000 virtual beds, and it continues to care for hundreds of patients every month through remote monitoring and home visits. During a six-month period alone last winter, Medway’s team cared for 356 patients, and performed 2,400 visits, with many done virtually through the use of remote monitoring, video and telephone calls. As well as it being better for patients, it helped save more than £100,000 of costs associated with a hospital ward stay. On average a hospital ward stay costs £657 a day, compared to £187 in a virtual ward.

Jayne Black, Chief Executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are extremely proud of the excellent and innovative work of our virtual ward service. It is vital for us here in Medway and the wider NHS, as it helps free up hospital beds and reduce the time patients spend in hospital. This is particularly important during the challenging winter months.”