Frimley Health urgent & emergency care virtual ward patient information
Why have I been given this information?
You have been assessed and have been enrolled onto our virtual ward for urgent and emergency care to try and avoid you needing an unnecessary admission or a return to hospital for assessment if it doesn't need to be face to face.
How does the virtual ward work and what do I need to do?
There is a lot of work going on nationally about increasing the number of patients who can be safely managed virtually to avoid you having to be in hospital.
When you are enrolled onto our virtual ward and discharged from one of our emergency areas at Frimley Health, you will either:
- Be given access to an application you can download on your phone or tablet to be able to give us readings of your vital signs or how your symptoms are developing.
- Or we will book you into the pathology service if you need repeat bloods taken. We will then review and call you with the results.
Many of the patients we have on the virtual ward can also be monitored remotely. You will be given access to our app to submit readings to us so we can track your progress between calls. You can find information to explain how to download and set this up and how this works below.
No matter why you are on our virtual ward, you will have contact from our team over the phone at various intervals while on our system. Please be aware this may be from a withheld or private number. We advise all patients to ensure family members are aware that you are having this monitoring.
If you do start to feel more unwell, or your symptoms worsen please refer to the tables below to help you decide who to contact.
If your health has dramatically changed and you are concerned, you can either:
- Call the Virtual Ward team for advice on
- Wexham Park: 07795 520317
- Frimley Park: 07795 640837
- If between 9am-6pm Monday-Friday.
- Go to the Emergency Department / call 999 depending on how unwell you are feeling.
If you have any questions or are not sure if you need a further assessment, you can:
- Call the virtual ward team on 0300 613 3012 if between 9am-6pm Monday to Saturday.
- Call NHS 111 if outside these hours if it is a question or concern that cannot wait until the next day. If you have a question but are not concerned your health has deteriorated, please do call this number the following day for advice.
We use the ‘DocoboAPP’ to enable you to give us updates about your progress while you are on the virtual ward. You will be given a thorough explanation of how this works will be explained to you when the team get in touch for your initial call from the virtual ward.
When you have been discharged from hospital, it would be helpful if downloaded the app as soon as you can. We will then call you to complete the final stages of the process to give you access.
| Download the app from the Google Play store or App Store- search for DocoboAPP. Select 'Install' (Android) or 'GET' (Apple/IOS) Open the app by tapping 'open' |
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For android users only
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How long will I have access to the virtual ward team?
This will vary depending on your reason for being enrolled onto our service. The length of time and process whilst you are on the virtual ward will be explained to you when we contact you, but the average is 4-7 days.
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What happens if I am discharged from the hospital and become worried about my symptoms or condition?
Depending on the reason for you being on our virtual ward, you will either have access to an application called DOCOBO which we will use to track your symptoms which you can send us messages on to ask questions. Or you can call us for advice on the numbers found above.
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If a family or friend becomes unwell – can they call the UEC virtual ward?
Unfortunately, the virtual ward is only able to support and look after the patients we enrol onto our service. If your friends or relatives are unwell, they need to get advice from their GP / 111 or the NHS website.
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Can I use my own monitors to check my vital signs and send you the readings?
If you have been asked to provide us with readings of your vital signs (for example your blood pressure), you can use your own machine if you have one. The virtual ward team will be able to advise when they speak to you.
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Will I be offered any routine follow up after my illness?
Before you are discharged from our virtual ward you will be advised of any further follow up planned, or advice you need to follow after you are discharged. Most patients will be referred back to their GP when their time on our virtual ward ends.
Including:
- Large print
- Easy read
- Audio
- Braille
Please contact the patient advice and liaison service (PALS)
Frimley Park Hospital 0300 613 6530
Heatherwood Hospital and Wexham Park Hospital 0300 615 3365