Hospital at home and virtual wards: What works? (NIHR, 18 March 2025)

Summary

Hospital at home and virtual wards provide safe alternatives to hospital care in the community. There is considerable variation in how they are operationalised at a local level. In general, their common feature is to provide healthcare in people’s homes through a multidisciplinary clinical team. Care is delivered both remotely and face to face. They aim to help avoid admission as well as facilitate rapid discharge.

The models vary in terms of who leads the service; the hours of operation; the staffing model; the conditions they support; the length of support; how technology is used; and how patients and professionals access the service.

In March 2025, NIHR Evidence held a webinar showcasing research on two home-based alternatives to hospital care from three evidence reviews: admission avoidance hospital at home and virtual wards for people with frailty.

Content

The webinar addressed:

• the key elements of hospital at home and virtual wards
• their impact on outcomes
• their impact on service costs
• factors that contribute to their success.