Virtual Wards - Communication

Communication

Every week an email containing a list of each virtual ward's current patients is sent automatically to local hospitals, social services, the ambulance service, NHS Direct and GP out-of-hours cooperatives. This information is uploaded onto these organisations' clinical computer systems. Should a virtual ward patient present to their services (e.g. to a local A&E department) then the staff working there will be alerted automatically to the patient's status. They then know that by contacting the virtual ward administrator, they can obtain up-to-date details of the patient's care. They can also arrange early discharge back to the care of the virtual ward team.