Virtual wards that allow people to be cared for at home are now live in Wirral as the NHS struggles to deal with demand.
The new wards monitor a patient’s health such as heart beats using mobile phone apps and some face-to-face care.
The scheme has come into use in a bid to free up hospital beds and allow for people to be cared at home “safely and conveniently,” according to the NHS.
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An update at a Wirral Council meeting said virtual wards were now set up with targets to get more patients looked after. The virtual wards for “people diagnosed with frailty and also respiratory complications,” according to a report.
In November just over 50% of the target was achieved for those who are frail while 72% of the target was achieved for people with breathing problems.
Other issues were discussed at the meeting with councillors told that to bring the number of NHS dentists back to pre-Covid levels would be a “challenge.” Doctors at the meeting asked to see more details on what’s happening locally.
Simon Banks, the place director for Wirral in Cheshire and Merseyside, said work on the cost of living crisis “means we are in a good place to support residents and respond to their needs.”
However he added: “We are not going to resolve the situation people are facing but we must endeavour to give people the help that they need.”
When challenged about a lack of progress on bringing mental health patients in long term care back to Wirral, Mr Banks said: This is a very very difficult market having been involved with at least two or three closure of care providers over the last year, not in this borough but containing people from Cheshire and Merseyside and it is a very difficult market to negotiate in.”
Mr Banks said funds were being used to repatriate people and avoid people spending a long time in hospital settings.
Councillors were told at a meeting in December with people from different healthcare providers in Wirral 29 mental health patients across Cheshire and Wirral faced delays to be transferred into care of 2.6 years or 962 days. In Wirral this figure was seven.
There had also been progress as part of a recruitment drive for social care workers where e-bikes could be loaned and employees could make referrals for people they knew. The number of care workers in October was 1,206, ahead of a target of 1187 with more recruited in October than people who left.
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