30-03-2025
Basildon Hospital team wins award for reducing stays with innovative virtual ward
Heart nurses are celebrating winning national recognition for a virtual ward at Basildon Hospital which helps reduce hospital stays.
The innovative virtual ward, the first of its kind in the East of England, is managed by the cardiothoracic clinical nurse specialists at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC) at Basildon Hospital.
The ward monitors patients' symptoms as they wait at home for their planned heart surgeries.
Through a mobile app, patients receive specialist and general health advice and emotional support, preventing them from becoming severely unwell and occupying hospital beds.
The virtual ward's success has been evident since July 2024, with the team having assisted more than 400 patients and 180 currently awaiting their procedure.
This has saved more than £560,000 in bed days and allowed patients to stay at home longer, avoiding possible infection risks.
Jade Theisinger, Cardiothoracic nurse specialist, with the award (Image: Mid and South Essex NHS Trust)
The Cardiothoracic Clinical Nurse Specialists at the CTC, who run the ward, have won the Excellence for Innovation in Practice 2025 award at the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland conference.
Anthony Johnson, cardiothoracic nurse specialist at the CTC, who also leads this service, said: "We are really proud to have won this award, it is a reflection of the effort our team has put into making the virtual ward work.
"It is not just about easing the pressure on hospital beds; it is about making sure patients feel supported while they wait for their surgery.
"And this recognition shows that it is making a real difference for patients and the hospital."
The virtual service also supports patients after surgery, particularly those at risk of infections or with limited social support at home.
One patient, Janet Sutherland, 78, from Hockley, said: "I was struggling with my heart condition and an irregular heartbeat for a long time.
"The team monitored my condition through the app and brought my surgery forward as I wasn't feeling well.
"Everyone in the team was lovely and the care was excellent."
