Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40897871›Full record

ArticleSurgical endoscopy2025

Transforming surgical care: The launch of the UK's first surgical virtual ward for acute and elective patients.

Suk Fun Cheng, Amarah Ghani Shaikh, Vasha Kaur

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Article in Surgical endoscopy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Suk Fun ChengKingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust, Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom. amanda.cheng@nhs.net.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9061-1723
Amarah Ghani ShaikhKingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust, Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom.
Vasha KaurKingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust, Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe increasing demand on healthcare services, coupled with financial pressures and the need to optimise patient outcomes, has driven the exploration of innovative care models. This abstract outlines the launch of a surgical virtual ward in the United Kingdom. The virtual ward aims to provide continuous care for surgical patients following hospital discharge, allowing them to recover effectively at home under remote monitoring. This new approach aims to reduce hospital readmissions, and lower healthcare costs.

methodsThe virtual ward uses advanced wearable devices and remote monitoring systems to continuously track patients' vital signs 24 h a day. This allows healthcare providers to detect early signs of clinical deterioration and intervene promptly. Secure video consultations are used to visually assess patients, including monitoring wounds for signs of infection or poor healing. The primary objectives of the virtual ward are to reduce the length of hospital stays, promote faster recovery by managing complications early, and reduce healthcare costs through remote care.

resultsFrom January 2024-February 2025, a total of 46 patients were enrolled to the surgical virtual ward. Early outcomes demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of this model. The financial impact has been substantial; with an average hospital bed costing £589 per day, the virtual ward has saved approximately £91,295 in bed costs alone, underscoring the cost-efficiency of the approach.

conclusionsThe surgical virtual ward initiative represents a significant shift in the delivery of surgical care, offering patients the benefits of home-based recovery while maintaining high levels of clinical oversight. The model not only alleviates pressure on hospital resources but also enhances patient satisfaction and provides a cost-effective solution for healthcare systems. As the program expands, it is expected to set new standards for surgical care, with the potential to redefine patient-centred, technologically advanced healthcare in the UK.

Indexed as

Elective Surgical ProceduresTelemedicineCost-Benefit AnalysisFemaleHumansLength of StayMaleMiddle AgedMonitoring, PhysiologicPatient ReadmissionUnited KingdomSurgical careSurgical virtual wardVirtual ward

Identifiers

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.