‘Virtual wards’ introduced by Medway Maritime Hospital to ease bed strain by monitoring patients in homes
By jnurden@thekmgroup.co.uk (John Nurden) A Kent hospital is using cutting-edge technology to free up bed space to ease the latest crisis facing the NHS. Senior reporter John Nurden spoke to the trust pioneering the use of “hospitals at home” to see how it works… Virtual wards have been hailed as a potential way to use technology to reduce staffing pressures and cut queues on wards. The idea is to allow eligible patients to get the care they need safely in the comfort of their own home, rather than being trapped in hospital for days or weeks. Trusts are also reporting the service can prevent…