PHIN’s role is to increase transparency in the healthcare sector to help improve patient outcomes and patient safety. This means making sure more people know what is happening and how your healthcare can be impacted.
As well as publishing data on what is currently going on in the sector, we want to share some of the new development that could mean a new era of patient-centred care. This is the first in our ‘Health innovations’ series, which will look at the various ways digital transformation, technology and data can change the way healthcare in the UK is delivered.
Imagine receiving hospital-level care without leaving your home. That’s the promise of virtual hospitals – a new digital health initiative that could transform healthcare across the UK by reducing the demand for actual hospital beds and patients’ length of stay in hospital.
What are virtual hospitals?
Virtual hospitals, sometimes called ‘hospital at home’ or ‘virtual wards’, use technology to deliver medical care remotely. Using remote monitoring, patients are supported by healthcare professionals including doctors, clinicians and nurses through digital tools, phone calls, and home visits when needed. It’s like having a hospital team in your living room – without the inconvenience of a hospital stay.
How far have virtual hospitals developed?
Virtual hospitals are no longer just a pilot idea. As of March 2025, there are 20 virtual ward beds per 100,000 people in England. NHS England has made them a central part of its 10-year plan, recognising them as a key solution to improve care and reduce pressure on traditional hospitals.
Private providers are also stepping in. In February 2025, Virtue Health launched the UK’s first private virtual hospital, offering urgent and elective care on-demand from home.
It is worth noting that ‘Virtual’ does not mean in the sense of virtual reality, where you can see a 3D version of a ward.
There are issues around fear of transparency, cultural resistance, and lack of implementation capacity. This highlights the challenges in rolling out virtual wards despite their strategic importance.
Emergency care would still take place in a traditional hospital. Virtual wards are more appropriate for inpatient and long-term conditions which require hospital care.
What are the benefits of virtual hospitals for patients?
Here’s how virtual hospitals are making a difference:
Comfort and convenience: Patients can recover in familiar surroundings, reducing stress and improving wellbeing.
Faster access to care: Virtual hospitals help cut NHS wait times by freeing up physical beds and resources.
Reduce inequalities: Having treatment in your own home means that you don’t have the costs and time considerations of going to a traditional hospital. This can help those patients who live further away or have trouble travelling.
Better outcomes: Studies show virtual wards can prevent hospital admissions, shorten recovery times, and improve satisfaction.
Personalised support: Patients with complex needs get tailored care plans, with remote teams ready to step in when needed.
Choice and dignity: For some, virtual hospitals offer the option to be cared for – or even to pass away – in their own home, surrounded by loved ones.
Fewer readmissions: Sometimes people need to be taken back into hospital for further interventions (diagnosis, treatment or care) and virtual wards can help reduce the number of times this happens.
What’s next?
Virtual hospitals are expected to grow rapidly. They’re being integrated with national programmes like the Single Patient Record, Federated Data Platform, and Integrated Neighbourhood Teams, aiming to make care more joined-up and accessible.
The hope is that the rollout of virtual care will improve levels of patient care and patient experience, reduce the pressure on health services by reducing the number of ‘bed days’ patients need in traditional hospitals.
