Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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1379. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to integrate any planned virtual home hospital services with community care services and GP services to facilitate supported early hospital discharge of patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1018/23]

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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1380. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to develop and scale up virtual home hospital services within the HSE for early supported discharge, particularly for respiratory illness in order to relieve winter stress on the hospital services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1019/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1379 and 1380 together.

The Community Virtual Ward (CVW) concept has been developed and a proof of the concept tested by my department as a solution for delivery of sub acute care and supporting integrated care in line with the shift in care to the community.  The model brings care closer to home and focuses on delivering  sub acute care for older patients or patients with  chronic diseases. 

The expansion of the Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) role, funded by my department, is a key enabler for the scaling up the Community Virtual Ward model of care providing nurse-led care across acute and community services facilitated by remote monitoring technology and appropriate clinical and digital governance systems.

The CVW has been developed and adapted to meet the needs of various populations, including chronic disease management, older persons care and in response to COVID-19,  with many positive outcomes demonstrated. Pathways of care are provided directly from GPs following a comprehensive assessment that meets specific criteria, and also on discharge from hospital to reduce the risk of a hospital re-admission and ED attendance. The CVW project has expanded to several Community Health Organisations (CHOs) providing care for individuals in the community. The HSE have begun implementing this model across the system.