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How a Diabetes Virtual Ward is helping patients spend less time in hospital

Overview

The London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust has opened a Diabetes Virtual Ward, which enables diabetes patients to be monitored in their own homes. 

By enabling healthcare professionals to remotely monitor patients, the Virtual Ward is designed to help free up hospital beds, increasing hospital capacity.

With one in four hospital patients living with diabetes1, and these patients spending an average of an extra two days in hospital1, the Diabetes Virtual Ward allows these patients to be discharged from hospital sooner or avoid an admission altogether, receiving one-to-one interventions in the comfort of their own home.

The team at London Northwest University Hospital NHS Trust explain: “Most people don’t want to stay in hospital any longer than they have to. This initiative allows us to support patients remotely so they can remain at home.”

Virtual Ward patients use the Accu-Chek Instant blood glucose meter and mySugr® app* to measure and log their blood glucose levels. Their results connect with the RocheDiabetes Care Platform, where healthcare professionals can see their patients’ diabetes data in real-time. Patients are also able to reply to messages from nurses through the app, enabling them to be fully supported remotely.

“As long as a patient can take a blood sugar reading, that is all they need”, the team at London Northwest University Hospital NHS Trust shares.

“We are able to see patients’ blood glucose readings in real-time as they take them throughout the day, we can call the patient to provide advice on any changes to medication required.”

Virtual Wards are designed to prevent hospital admissions and facilitate early supported discharge, as well as improve patient experiences and outcomes. With around 168,000 people living with diabetes in North-West London1, the Diabetes Virtual Ward could not only provide patients with better healthcare at home, but could significantly increase capacity in hospitals by freeing up hospital beds2.

The government aims to treat 50,000 patients a month in Virtual Wards at home3. This is a five-fold increase in the 10,000 patients treated in Virtual Wards in December.

The NHS has provided advice to ICBs setting up a virtual ward here.

If you would like to learn more about the Accu-Chek Instant blood glucose meter, mySugr app or RocheDiabetes Care Platform and how these could support your healthcare setting, please fill in the form below to request a demo.
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The lifestyle images included in this article are stock photos used for illustrative purposes only.

The mySugr logbook is licensed for people with diabetes over the age of 16 years. The mySugr Bolus Calculator is licensed for people with diabetes over the age of 18 years. 

References:

1. London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (2023). Virtual wards offer online care. Available at: https://www.lnwh.nhs.uk/news/virtual-wards-offer-online-care-7971/

2. NHS England (2021). What is a virtual ward? Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/virtual-wards/what-is-a-virtual-ward/

3. Digital Health (2023). Government plans 500% expansion of virtual wards. Available at: https://www.digitalhealth.net/2023/01/government-plans-500-expansion-of…