What it’s really like caring for someone through a virtual ward

Virtual wards allow patients to leave the hospital sooner by continuing to receive care from home, or to avoid going to the hospital altogether if care and monitoring can be delivered from home or a care home. They are a relatively new way of delivering NHS care at home, often involving remote monitoring technology.

As they become an increasingly important way of providing clinical care outside the hospital, many of us might find ourselves having to care for someone using a Virtual Ward at home, but what’s it really like?

We spoke to a member of the Mobilise community who shared her experience of looking after her husband during his final weeks of life, with the support of a Virtual Ward team. She discusses the emotional weight, the practical challenges, and what helped her stay steady when things got hard.

What was your first experience with a virtual ward like?

It was a positive experience overall. The paid carers were fantastic, and we had regular contact with the hospice doctor and community palliative care nurse. District nurses came

in daily to change the syringe drivers. It was a great team, and I knew how to access support and advice if needed.

How did it feel to have your loved one at home rather than in the hospital?

Both comforting and frightening - it was lovely that he could be back at home with me and our pets, look out at the garden, have friends visit, etc. But a huge weight of responsibility was on me, and as he was so ill by this point, I knew that getting him to A&E (which inevitably occurred a week after he came home) would be challenging.

How did being part of a virtual ward affect your responsibilities as a carer?

I was effectively doing ‘waking nights’ as carers/nurses only came during the day. I couldn’t really rest during the day as I was still responsible for medication and stoma care, and I wanted to spend time with him, knowing he didn’t have long left to live. I was exhausted. 

Did anything surprise you when using a virtual ward?

The waking nights - I hadn’t quite anticipated that. Our house was too small for the hospital bed and for me to be able to sleep downstairs, so I had to be up and down the stairs throughout the night. 

Did you feel you had the support you needed from the medical team?

Yes, absolutely. But it also required me to be proactive, and I had to deal with a critical situation by myself before we could get emergency medical help. 

What kind of support or communication from the medical team made (or could have made) the biggest difference for you during this period?

Access to the hospice 24/7 advice and rapid response line - this helped me to get my husband to A&E quickly when he was really too unwell to travel.

What advice would you give to someone who’s about to use a virtual ward for the first time?

Make sure you know who to call and how to get in contact with them. Be organised, make lists. Anticipate that things might go a bit wrong to begin with until everything settles, particularly if different teams are working together (sometimes the interface between primary, secondary and community care can be a bit tricky). Try to keep your sense of humour, and stay calm! 

What’s one thing you wish more people understood about caring for someone through a virtual ward?

They are a hugely positive step and can make a world of difference to people who would prefer to be at home, but it is incumbent on the carer to be brave, resilient and organised when and if things go pear-shaped!

With special thanks to Claire for sharing her experience.

Other resources that could help us 

For more information, we might want to read the comprehensive guide to virtual wards, including a step-by-step breakdown of how it works, what technology is used, and simple steps for starting our first virtual ward.

Join the Mobilise Hub 💌

If we want to connect with people who have experience using a virtual ward or want to share our own experience with others who just get it, join the Mobilise Hub. It’s a free space for us to ask questions, share experiences, and access support. 

Find your local carer services 🔎

If we want to find  local support to help us when using a virtual ward,  we can use this handy tool to find what care services are available in our area.

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