Publish date: 28 September 2024
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals has recently marked the 2,000th patient to have been treated at home on a ‘virtual ward.’
The Blackpool virtual wards programme has been up-and-running since 2022 and now has five specialisms - frailty, respiratory, paediatric, IV therapy and end of life care, which all help treat patients in their preferred place of residence such as their own homes or residential care settings rather than being in hospital.
In July, Maureen Carroll, 85, became very unwell and after discussing her preference to remain at home and out of hospital her GP referred her onto the frailty virtual ward.
When her senior nurse from the Trust’s Rapid Response team, Jodie Thornborough, first visited her Maureen couldn’t get out of her chair.
Jodie commented: “Maureen was very unwell. After my initial assessment it was really clear she needed daily support from our teams and to be monitored on the virtual ward.
“Through the close monitoring we, alongside colleagues including advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) and consultants, identified that Maureen had an irregular heartbeat. An ECG was carried out before she was quickly referred onto the Cardiac team. When she contracted an infection we quickly responded with antibiotics and were able to treat her conditions in the same way as if she had been in hospital.
“After 10 days of visits, we were able to discharge Maureen from the virtual ward and ensure her care continued with our other community services. Visiting today I can see a huge change in her, she was walking around when we first arrived and in high spirits.”
For Maureen it was important to her to stay at home as she was passionate about maintaining her independence and caring for her 19-year-old cat.
Maureen explained: “I’m hanging on for him he is my best friend, and we keep each other going. I couldn’t have left him and that is why I am so grateful for these lovely ladies, all of them, for keeping me at home. I just clicked with them, and they helped me get better at home.”
Virtual wards could be an option for someone before they are admitted into hospital or for a patient who may need some additional help at home after being in hospital
Care homes across Blackpool are also using virtual wards to prevent residents who maybe more vulnerable going into what can sometimes be a loud and unsettling environment. Anyone who would like to know more about virtual wards should speak to their medical team to learn more.
