Hundreds of patients cared for in virtual wards

Nurses speak directly to patients and colleagues on a virtual ward

More than 800 hospital patients are being cared for in virtual wards across Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

Virtual wards - also known as Hospital at Home - allow patients to get the care they need at home safely and conveniently.

The NHS has a UK target of 40-50 virtual ward beds per 100,000 people, which would mean more than 50,000 admissions a month.

Dr Tom Clark, Chief Medical Officer at the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust said "people want to be managed in their own homes" and the technology allowed that to happen safely.

Penny Taylor said patients with acute conditions could have "hospital level care" in their own home

There are currently more than 1400 virtual beds (1428) across Kent, Sussex and Surrey with just under 900 patients being cared for this way.

The NHS said doctors and other health staff review cases each day.

Patients are offered wearable devices that give daily readings and results, which are monitored remotely.

They also receive home visits where necessary.

Penny Taylor, lead nurse for the Hospital at Home Service at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, Kent, said patients with acute conditions could have "hospital level care" in their own home, which gave patients more choice.

Kathleen Turner receives care via the Hospital at Home scheme

Kathleen Turner, 71, has been receiving daily video calls and regular home visits as part of the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust's hospital at home scheme following a short stay in hospital.

She described the care she has received as "amazing" and said that home is where "you're the most comfortable".

The Trust said it had seen 17,000 patients on the scheme since it started.