Welcome to our Virtual Ward

The NHS is introducing more virtual wards to support people away from hospitals, in a location more convenient for them. A virtual ward provides an alternative option for those who become unwell and would normally be spending time in hospital. 

Virtual wards prevent avoidable admission into hospital, supporting early discharge out of hospital, and increase the overall bed-base available for acute care. Keeping patients in familiar surroundings, but with the necessary care and support from the hospital and community services, is likely to improve their outcome.

Having your care delivered on a virtual ward can mean you spend a shorter amount of time in hospital, or avoid being admitted altogether. This reduces those risks known to be associated with hospital stays. We have developed and are continuing to develop, different Virtual Wards, all designed to provide specialist care to patients admitted onto them

Virtual Ward via Digital Technology

We are supporting patients within Cambridge and Peterborough (with the option of potentially supporting patients in South Lincolnshire as well, staffing permitting). On this Virtual Ward we have been funded for 30 beds. 

Patients will be identified for this Virtual Ward from all clinical areas. Upon acceptance onto the Virtual Ward, we will provide patients with the Digital Technology they require to take home, patients must also consent to being admitted onto the Virtual Ward and will need to be able to use the equipment provided (family/carers can support if they are able to). The discharging consultant will advise the Virtual Ward team how many times a day the patient requires their observations and the parameters that we should follow, we are able to go to the patients home to repeat bloods if required.

We have daily contact with all patients that are admitted onto the Virtual Ward. We cover a 7 day service 07:00-19:30.

Our main focus is to reduce patients' length of stay with Digital Technology.

Referrals can be sent via ICE and the referrals are checked regularly throughout the day.  We have an office number EXT 7961/1597/1596 or an email: nwangliaft.virtualwardteam@nhs.net.

General Medicine Virtual Ward

Our General Medicine Virtual Ward has been created, in partnership with the Greater Peterborough Network, to provide safe and optimal care to adults with frailty, who may require urgent or emergency care needs due to intercurrent illness, a frailty syndrome or an exacerbation in an underlying pre-existing long-term condition.

The Virtual Ward is available to patients who have been assessed by our clinicians, and whose management and care is best supported in the community with added social care support and/or clinical input from primary care. Patients must be: 

  • Diagnosed with a condition that can be managed within the community setting.
  • Aged 18 and above
  • Patient requiring short term (1-14 days) stay on the Virtual Ward
  • Living within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

When admitted onto the Virtual Ward, patients will be provided with a full explanation of what to expect, and how they will be cared for (alongside any ongoing care requirements).

The General Medicine Virtual Ward team support patients 7 days a week, 08:00 - 20:00. 

Frailty Virtual Ward

Our Frailty Virtual Ward was the first Virtual Ward to be launched at the Trust, in December 2022. The ward has been created, in partnership with the Greater Peterborough Network, to provide safe and optimal care to adults with frailty, who may be presenting to our front door with urgent or emergency care needs due to intercurrent illness and /or presenting with a frailty syndrome and/ or to manage an exacerbation in an underlying pre-existing long-term condition.

The Virtual Ward is available to patients who have been assessed by NWAngliaFT clinician’s, and who’s management and care is best supported in the community with added social care support and/or clinical input from primary care. Patients must be: 

  • Diagnosed with a condition that can be managed within the community setting. 
  • Aged 65 and above
  • Patient requiring short term (1-14 days) stay on the Virtual Ward.

When admitted onto the Virtual Ward, patients will be provided with a full explanation of what to expect, and how they will be cared for (alongside any ongoing care requirements). 

The Frailty Virtual Ward team support patients 7 days a week, 08:00 - 20:00. 

Intravenous (IV) Antibiotics at home service

The Trust is now able to support patient with IV Antibiotics in their own home. This service is delivered through leading specialty pharmacy, Sciensus.

Sciensus provide healthcare solutions to a wide variety of patients, they have provided access life changing treatment to patients in the comfort of their homes, for 30 years. Sciensus work alongside our Trust to offer this service to eligible patients in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Patients can receive the IV Antibiotics they need, in the comfort of their own home. 

The service offers patients a 24 hour infusion. The service can be accessed for a maximum of six weeks.