15th January 2021
A diagnosis of COVID-19 can be stressful for both care-givers and patients. In order to ease that pressure, Belfast Trust have set up virtual COVID-19 wards for patients who can be safely discharged.
The Virtual Hospital aims to continue to provide an excellent standard of care beyond the hospital walls and into patients’ homes during these unprecedented times. Behind this service is a multidisciplinary team, consisting of specialist nurses, doctors, the emergency department, allied health care professionals and primary care.
Patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, have been off supplemental oxygen and no longer have a fever can be admitted to the Virtual Hospital. Once admitted, the team will contact the patient at home and through a series of questions and monitoring exercises will be able to offer advice and support. Where additional needs are identified, the multidisciplinary team can address this in their virtual ward round which is carried out daily.
The video below illustrates the process.
The service is available 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and 9am-1pm Saturday to Sunday. Patients will be provided with safety netting advice for out of hours needs.