National virtual ward system promised in 10-Year Plan

The document published today said: “We will undertake national procurement for a new platform available to all NHS provider organisations. This will include the ability to remotely monitor patients, with data flowing through to the NHS App and Single Patient Record – enabling proactive management of patients to become the new normal.”

Virtual wards, also known as healthcare at home, have been widely trialled across the NHS already, with some research pointing to reduced hospital admissions and financial savings.

There was no date given for when this would be launched.

The news clarifies the digital underpinning of “neighbourhood health services” and which bodies would commission it, following the downgrading of integrated care boards.

The plan said the new system would enable “proactive management of patients to become the new normal, reaching out at the first signs of deterioration to prevent an emergency admission to hospital”.

It explained the new system would allow the creation of patient care plans and that generative AI “could help create the first draft of these plans” for clinicians to then review with the patient.

The document added the software would support the management of multidisciplinary community teams – “including workflow management and escalation of cases where there are concerns about physical or mental health”.

Legislation to mandate a single patient record

The government will legislate so that patients have access to their single patient record on the NHS App - but warned this would not be until 2028 and was subject to parliamentary timetables.

The document said: “New legislation [will] place a duty on every health and care provider to make the information they record about a patient, available to that patient. We will also legislate to give patients access to their SPR by default.

“Our ambition is that from 2028, patients will be able to view it, securely, on the NHS App. Over time, that data will include not only medical records, but also a personalised account of health risk, drawing from lifestyle, demographic and genomic data - to help personalise the NHS’ service offer and to support individual behaviour change.”

The indications are that full roll-out may take longer still, with the plan saying once the legislation has been passed, the SPR would be deployed in maternity care.

It said: “We know from both evidence and our engagement that experiences of maternity care are not good enough, and that mothers’ preferences are frequently ignored. The SPR will ensure maternity teams have all the information they need about previous consultations, medical history and stated preferences, helping them provide genuinely high-quality, personalised care.”

App

The plan reiterates that the NHS App will become the single “front door of the NHS”.

It says a much-expanded range of services on the App will include clinical advice, a virtual 111, “My Choices” with detail on services including heart surgery outcome scores, direct booking for diagnostics, managing medicines, and giving access to carers. Third-party apps and services will also be encouraged.

By 2028, My NHS GP, “a new AI-enabled tool… will help patients better navigate the health service”.