A Leicester NHS trust and local hospice have joined forces to launch a palliative care virtual ward using Clinitouch technology.
When someone is living with serious, life-limiting illness, the goal is to make each day as comfortable as possible by managing pain, easing distressing symptoms, and supporting both emotional and practical needs.
Those symptoms and needs can shift quickly, sometimes within the same day. That can be challenging for both patients and the people who care for them, with each hospital admission bringing potential disruption, physical strain, and emotional stress.
That's why an NHS trust in Leicester teamed up with local hospice LOROS to create a palliative care virtual ward that enables people to receive remote patient monitoring and care from the comfort of their own homes. Whether they're discharged from hospital or hospice, or referred from community teams, they receive the support they need from specialist clinicians.
It's all about spotting changes early, acting quickly, and keeping people where they feel most comfortable.
Patients are referred to the virtual ward when they are ready to leave the hospital or hospice, but still need close monitoring and support. They are set up with the Clinitouch app and any equipment needed to track their symptoms, such as devices to measure vital signs.
Each day, patients or their carers record key information, including symptom changes, pain levels, and general wellbeing, using a tablet or their own device. This is quick to do and tailored to each person’s condition and care plan.
With every response, Clinitouch's algorithms automatically analyse and risk-score the data, generating a concern level of high, medium or low. This acts as an 'early warning system', helping to identify any early signs of deterioration or anything outside of normal parameters for that person.
The information is reviewed by the palliative care team. If anything suggests a patient’s condition is changing or their symptoms are becoming harder to manage, the team steps in straight away. This might be a phone call, a medication adjustment, or a home visit. The aim is to address concerns before they become a crisis, so the patient can remain comfortable at home.
For people receiving end of life care, the virtual ward means they can spend more time at home in familiar surroundings, rather than in a hospital bed. They know they are being watched over every day, which helps reduce anxiety for them and their families.
For the clinical team, it provides a clear picture of how each patient is doing, allowing them to respond quickly when something changes. This early action helps prevent distressing symptoms from escalating and reduces the need for emergency hospital admissions.
Families also benefit from having a direct link to specialist support. It gives them confidence that help is always close at hand, and that their loved one is receiving compassionate care that adapts to their needs in real time.
Dr Noel O’Kelly, Medical Director at Clinitouch knows that responding quickly to changing needs within palliative care pathways is crucial to ensuring patients and carers feel well supported at home:
“We have one chance to get things right for patients at end of life. It is essential that they have access to responsive healthcare as their palliative care needs can change quickly.
The palliative care virtual ward is showing how technology can help deliver comfort and dignity at home. It gives patients the support they need, families the reassurance they want, and clinicians the insight to act before problems grow.
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