The hospital team will identify if you are suitable to receive your medical care in your own home, discuss this with yourself and your family to obtain your consent for the referral, and answer any questions you may have. They complete a referral to the Locala Virtual Ward team and will also organise any therapy or equipment needs before discharge. The Locala VW team can visit the same day if you are home before 16:00 or the next day. The team will complete an initial holistic assessment including the reason you were referred to the service, your observations, and activities of daily living. The team may take your blood, weigh you, monitor your bowels, urine, pain, alter your medications plus other things. The Locala team has multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDTs) with the consultant overseeing your care Monday to Friday to discuss your ongoing medical care and adjust your treatment plan.
In April 2024, we will also be using remote monitoring provided by inHealthCare. Patients who are suitable for remote monitoring will be shown by the Locala Virtual team how to complete their observations using the kit provided and submit them via the provided tablet. This will include taking your blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate or pulse, and temperature. You will also be sent a questionnaire to complete. Remote monitoring requires readings to be submitted in the morning for the team to review remotely for the lunchtime MDT with the consultant. If there are any problems with your readings or questionnaire, the team will contact you and may ask you to repeat your observations in the afternoon or come visit you.
