East Cheshire NHS Trust introduces at-home monitoring for Coronavirus patients
East Cheshire NHS Trust is to become one of the first trusts in the region to introduce at-home oxygen monitoring for Covid-19 patients as part of a 'virtual ward'.
A ‘virtual ward’ has been created by East Cheshire NHS Trust to monitor Covid-19 patients at home.
The innovative ward aims to provide added assurance to patients who have tested positive, including those in Macclesfield, Cheshire.
East Cheshire Trust will become one of the first trusts in the North West to introduce the service.
At-home oxygen monitoring will be provided for eligible patients who are recovering from the illness at home, or outside of hospital.
It will also provide patients with rapid access to clinical support if their oxygen levels drop below their baseline measurement, and it could help prevent the need for further therapy such as ventilation.
Simon Goff, chief operating officer at East Cheshire NHS Trust said, “We are delighted to be one of the first trusts in the North West to introduce the ‘virtual ward’ service which provides an added element of reassurance for our patients that has not previously been available.
“Patients on the ‘virtual ward’ are given a pulse oximeter device to use at home.
“Every morning they receive a text message or phone call and respond with their daily oxygen measurements and pulse rate.”
The ‘virtual ward’ team will then monitor all incoming results and contact patients directly if their results fall below their baseline measurement.
Patients will be discharged from the ‘virtual ward’ after 10 days, once their symptoms have improved.
