A Hospital at Home The success of Virtual Wards
The HSE’s Virtual Wards programme is changing how people experience hospital care in Ireland. It allows patients who would usually require a hospital bed to be safely monitored and supported in the comfort of their own home.
Two Virtual Wards went live in 2024 in St Vincent’s University Hospital and University Hospital Limerick, with a further five sites due to go live by the end of 2025. This initiative involves significant collaboration across national and local clinical and technical teams, including the Technology and Transformation Telehealth Programme Team.
What is a Virtual Ward?
A Virtual Ward is a safe and efficient alternative to HSE bedded care that is enabled by technology. Virtual Wards support patients who would otherwise be in hospital to receive the acute care, monitoring and treatment they need in the comfort of their own home.
Using secure remote health monitoring systems, clinical teams track patients’ vital signs, review their recovery, and step in quickly to support patients if needed. For patients, this innovative approach allows patients to stay under the care of the hospital team while benefiting from the comfort and convenience of their home environment.
How It Works
If deemed clinically suitable, patients admitted to a virtual ward stay at home but remain under constant clinical supervision along clearly defined clinical pathways. Using connected sensors, the patient’s key clinical measurements are taken at defined intervals throughout the day according to their clinical pathway requirements.
Patients also receive video calls from their care team at regular intervals, as required. Consultants carry out ward rounds remotely, reviewing information and making any necessary changes to treatment. The goal is to deliver the same level of clinical oversight and care as an inpatient ward in a physical clinical setting, but with the added comfort and convenience of home for patients.
Measurable Results Since July 2024
- The numbers show that the model is working:
Over 1,900 patients have been safely supported at home to date meaning more than 3,800 patients have benefited; i.e. those patients using the virtual ward and those patients then gaining quicker access to the in-hospital bed becoming available. - In excess of 17,000 acute bed days have been saved
- 100% of patients said they felt safe under virtual ward care
- 94% preferred this model to traditional hospital stays
Net Promoter Score, a metric that gauges satisfaction by asking how likely someone is to recommend, has reached 100; the highest possible rating.
The programme supports Sláintecare principles and aligns with the HSE’s Digital for Care 2030 roadmap. The system has been built to scale across the health service
The Patient Experience
Feedback from patients has been highly positive. Many describe the process as easy, reassuring and surprisingly simple to manage.
“I felt very safe, it’s so easy, like using a phone or just putting on the telly. They’re on the ball with everything, just brilliant.” Tommy, Virtual Ward Patient
A New Direction for Care
The success of virtual wards marks an important step in the HSE’s digital transformation. It shows that, by using technology, high-quality care can extend beyond the hospital, supporting patients where they feel most comfortable — at home.