Contact us
Local referral units:
Ashford - 0300 123 0915
Canterbury - 0300 123 4415
South Kent coast - 0300 123 1943
(Folkestone, New Romney, Dover, Deal and surrounding areas)
Thanet - 0300 790 0386
Cardiac and respiratory - 0300 123 3027
West Kent - 0300 123 1950
Information for patients and carers
What is a virtual ward?
A virtual ward, also known as hospital at home, means you can be cared for at home, rather than staying in hospital.
Like hospital, you will get the care you need from a team of healthcare professionals.
You will be checked on every day.
Will I need any equipment?
If you have a condition which needs to be monitored, we will give you everything you need in a specialist kit, called a Doccla kit.
Once the equipment is in your home, the team will be in touch to show you how to use it and set you up on the system.
The equipment will include a mobile phone or tablet. This will be programmed with information to set-up and use medical devices such as:
- Scales to check your weight
- a blood pressure monitor
- a pulse oximeter, which checks your blood oxygen levels and pulse
- a thermometer to take your temperature
- a pedometer to count the number of steps you have taken
- an electrocardiogram monitor (ECG) to check your heart rhythm.
How will I know what is going on?
You will be supported virtually by our team. They will monitor the data recorded by you (or your carer.
We will contact you immediately if any of your readings are a cause for concern.
As long as you are the patient or have consent and/or lasting power of attorney for health and care decisions, you can contact the team via the Local Referral Unit (LRU) on 0300 1231943 for updates or questions.
What happens if I or the person I care for feels worse?
You can contact the team from 8am to 8pm.
If it’s out of hours call NHS 111, or in an emergency, call 999.
Local referral units (see above).
What happens when I don’t need to be monitored any more?
When virtual ward monitoring is no longer needed, we will arrange to collect your kit from your house. This can be done by the team or a courier, picking the kit up from your home, or you might be asked to return it via a pre-paid envelope.
More information about virtual wards
Check the NHS England website for further information on virtual wards.
There’s also lots of information at Carers UK website.
Managing your medicines
If you are struggling to manage your medicines, speak to one of the virtual ward team who can refer you for support from our pharmacy service.
If you have been discharged from the virtual ward, speak to your GP or the pharmacy which supplies your meds.
If your meds have been changed by the virtual ward team, your GP will be told and they will adjust your regular prescription.
Any medicines that you no longer need, or which have expired, should be returned to your usual pharmacy for disposal
If you are running out of your regular meds, contact your usual pharmacy and ask when the next supply is due.
You could also contact the GP practice and ask how you can order the repeat prescription on behalf of the patient as they are unwell. If you are still having problems, let the team know.
Social prescribing
Social prescribing helps people make positive changes in their lives and their communities by linking them to voluntary and community groups.
Social prescribing can help people to:
- Feel more involved in the community
- Meet new people
- Make some changes to improve health and wellbeing
- Enhance quality of life and ensure a dignified journey
Social prescribing can implement ideas to support independence and enablement. Anyone can refer themselves, a loved one or someone you are professionally connected to
For social prescribing in the Canterbury, Faversham, Herne Bay and Whitstable areas please contact Red Zebra:
Red Zebra website
01227 262313
Info@redzebra.org.uk
For social prescribing in the South Kent Coast (Folkestone, Deal and the surrounding areas) please contact Age UK:
Age UK - South Kent Coast
Folkestone: 01303 279621
Deal: 01304 372608