To whom it may concern,
I am a doctor in the NHS currently undertaking a review of Adult Virtual Ward services across the South West region. I would be grateful if you could provide the following information under the Freedom of Information Act.
Timeframe: 1 April 2024 – most recent month available (monthly breakdown if possible).
Please provide the following about your Adult Virtual Ward service(s):
Configuration
• Which adult pathways are delivered (e.g., frailty, acute respiratory infection, heart failure)?
• Date of go-live for each pathway.
• Usual operating hours.
• Definition of a “virtual ward bed” used in reporting.
Activity & Capacity
• Funded capacity (VW “beds”).
• Average occupied bed-days / occupancy.
• Number of patients admitted and discharged.
• Average length of stay on the VW.
Outcomes & Safety
• 7-day and 30-day unplanned ED attendances, hospital admissions, or readmissions following VW discharge.
• Number of patients escalated to inpatient care from the VW.
• Number of deaths occurring on the VW.
Finance & Benefits
• 2024/25 budget allocated to VW(s).
• Any available analysis of cost-effectiveness or “bed days avoided.”
Data definitions
• Please confirm whether your reporting matches the NHS England Virtual Ward SitRep definitions.
If the above data is routinely submitted to NHS England or available in existing reports, please provide those reports directly.
Many thanks for your assistance,