I visited the virtual ward at BWH yesterday and spoke to the nurses supporting residents who are kept safe whilst being able to stay at home. Technology is helping to prevent entry to our accident and emergency departments and leaves beds in the hospital for those who need it most.
There follows a message from Sarah Blow, CEO at SW London Integrated Care System.
As the winter draws in this month our update focuses on support to keep people well and out of hospital. Industrial action, increased household bills, and rising numbers of people seeking support for their well-being mean that this could potentially be the most challenging winter in NHS history. In preparing for industrial action strikes, staff are working hard across the system to minimise disruptions – whilst respecting our staff’s right to take industrial action.
For example, people are being redeployed where most needed in the system – with a focus on reducing ambulance handover times and on triaging incoming patients in Emergency Departments. This is in addition to ongoing efforts to safely discharge as many people from our hospitals as possible to make more beds available.
You can read about ongoing schemes such as the new South West London Remote Monitoring Hub that supports virtual wards in all six boroughs, a partnership with London Ambulance Service that is reducing blue light attendances at hospitals, services in the community this winter and support for people experiencing homelessness and help for people with the cost of living.
