Frailty virtual ward

Virtual hospitals are a model of care for people aged 18+ presenting with urgent and complex health and care needs and is a safe efficient alternative to NHS bedded care.

Virtual wards allow safe and optimal care to be provided closer to home, providing sub-acute care, allowing a patient to remain in familiar surroundings, improving their experience of care. If needed they have an Emergency Department (Urgent Community Response Teams (UCRT), and wards (the Frailty Virtual Ward and Respiratory Virtual Ward), where a patient can be transferred. Through avoiding admissions to a physical hospital  there is less pressure on hospital beds and reduces the risk of infections at a time of high transfer rates.

How does virtual care work?

The Urgent Community Response Teams (UCRT) operate across Mid and South Essex and provide a two-hour response time.  They are accessed via one SPA: 0344 257 3951

UCRT support patients in their own homes (including nursing and residential care comes) to avoid admission to hospital or new 24-hour care needs.