UHD launches 'hospital at home' for children

University Hospitals Dorset’s (UHD) new virtual ward, ‘Child Health @Home’, has officially launched, giving families access to healthcare services outside the hospital.

The ward, part of a national NHS-funded project, is led by clinical children’s community services lead Josie Roberts, paediatric consultant Dr Kate Goyder, and their team of nurses and physiotherapists. The teamaim to provide assessment, treatment, and support to children at home to enable early discharges from hospital and to reduce unnecessary visits and/or admission to hospital.

Patients have usually been in hospital with bronchiolitis, viral induced wheeze, gastroenteritis, or fever, and the team carry out home visits, offer telephone support and provide education for parents regarding their child’s condition and signs and symptoms to be aware of at home..

Several families have already piloted the pathway, and the team have received positive feedback from the care received.

Claire Morgan, whose son was on the pilot pathway, said:“The virtual ward was amazing for my son. It meant he could be discharged home where he was much more comfortable without the need to keep going back to the hospital for his antibiotics. We are very grateful for this brilliant project.”

Other feedback received so far included: “My daughter's only anxieties were the actual IV dose being administered, a drastic reduction in time of stress for her. I didn't have any worries about travel time or parking. It was absolutely brilliant. Instead of taking half my day and needing to arrange alternative childcare for my other children, it took a fraction of the time.!”

Karen Bowers, hospital at home’s virtual ward matron, said: “I am really proud of how hard the team has worked, and in doing so, this has paved the way for other parts of the virtual ward initiative to progress.

“From the hospital trust, this allows us to free up beds and resources for our very poorly children who needto be in hospital, and for families it makes the world of difference for their children to be able to receive the care they need in the comfort of their own home.”