Hospital at home and virtual wards: What works?

The growing demand on hospital services due to an ageing population and increasing frailty highlights the need for new approaches to care. Research suggests that 1 in 5 hospital admissions could be avoided, with the government aiming to shift care into the community. Keeping patients out of hospital benefits both them and the NHS, as extended hospital stays can reduce independence and lead to long-term care.

New service delivery models, such as hospital at home and virtual wards, offer safe alternatives by supporting patients at home, reducing admissions and facilitating earlier discharges. These models vary in leadership, staffing, supported conditions, and duration but all involve multidisciplinary teams focused on avoiding hospital stays or enabling quicker discharge. This webinar will present evidence from three reviews on these models, exploring their impact on outcomes, service costs, and the factors that contribute to their success. A Q&A session will follow.

The webinar will help participants understand:

• what are the key elements of hospital at home and virtual wards
• what is their impact on outcomes?
• what is their impact on social costs?
• what factors contribute to their success?