North East London FT and The Access Group design virtual ward service

North East London Foundation Trust has partnered with The Access Group to create an integrated care platform that will revolutionize patient care. This platform will bring together virtual wards, bed management, and digital transfer and discharge services to improve bed management and address delayed discharge issues. The two organizations will collaborate on a proof-of-concept pilot to design and deliver the platform and aim to streamline patient flow, support virtual wards, and efficiently manage patient discharge services to eliminate bed blocking. The virtual ward service will digitally monitor patient observations and integrate directly into electronic patient records, promoting a proactive and joined-up approach to care. In addition, the digitization of patient flow and discharge processes will provide clinicians with real-time overviews of bed availability and simplified forms to speed up referral, transfer, and discharge services. This collaboration will not only benefit North East London FT, but also the Barking Havering and Redbridge University Hospital Trust, and The London Borough of Waltham Forest, providing streamlined services and access to information at the point of care. This initiative represents an innovative and ambitious digital strategy and is a key part of North East London’s efforts to promote patient choice and access to healthcare. With the implementation of this platform, North East London FT aims to audit the reasons for delayed discharge, streamline processes, and identify areas for improvement. Steve Wightman, healthcare director at Access HSC, expressed excitement about the virtual wards, which alleviate hospital pressure and stress for patients, and enable a smoother transition from hospital to home. This collaboration represents a significant step towards transforming patient care and improving efficiency within North East London FT.