Mixed methods evaluation of Virtual Wards in Greater Manchester
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Virtual Wards Programme in Greater Manchester
IRAS ID
332822
Contact name
William Whittaker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 30 days
Research summary
Virtual wards are where patients are supported and monitored at home rather than at hospital. A patient might be offered the choice of a virtual ward rather than being admitted into hospital, or they might be discharged from hospital early onto a virtual ward.
Virtual wards are being used across Greater Manchester (GM) for conditions such as respiratory infections and frailty. The ten areas of GM are also working to introduce virtual wards for other conditions. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (ARC-GM) will be working with researchers from the NIHR Patient Safety Research Collaboration (PSRC) evaluate the GM Virtual Ward programme. The aim of the study is to evaluate the provision, experience, and impact of virtual wards.
Specific objectives are to:
• Understand how Virtual Wards are organised and delivered across GM.
• Explore patient, carer and staff experiences of receiving/providing care on Virtual Wards.
• Assess whether Virtual Wards provide an effective, safe, efficient, and equitable approach to delivering care.The study is made up of three work packages:
WORK PACKAGE 1: entails collection of qualitative data through interviews with virtual ward leads and analysis of activity data to understand how virtual wards are being implemented and delivered in GM.
WORK PACKAGE 2: entails collecting qualitative data through interviews and observations at up to four GM case study sites to understand patient, carer, and staff experiences of receiving and providing care on virtual wards in GM.
WORK PACKAGE 3: uses quantitative data to asses clinical, cost and system outcomes of virtual wards in GM.
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/PR/1448
Date of REC Opinion
11 Dec 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion