A number of factors, including an aging population with more complex needs, are causing an increase in demand on the NHS. A major component of the strategy will be changing how the NHS delivers services to meet the changing needs of the population, including by expanding care outside of hospitals.
"Rolling out more services to help with falls and frailty, as well as supporting up to 50,000 patients a month to recover in the comfort of their own homes. Not only will patients benefit from better experiences and outcomes, it will ease pressure on our busy emergency departments."
Up to 50,000 people per month will receive clinical support from clinicians at home in cutting-edge "virtual wards," as community services like falls and frailty teams are scaled up.
A growing body of research shows that virtual wards, which treat patients in their homes instead of hospitals, are a safe and effective alternative to hospital care, especially for frail patients. The NHS has already implemented these programs. These have increased the number of patients who can be cared for in this way by 7,000, a 50% increase since last summer.
Patients are now supported by clinicians to recover in the comfort of their own homes, rather than in hospitals. Before the upcoming winter, an additional 3,000 "hospital at home" beds will be built, and the plan aims to support up to 50,000 people each month.
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