NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has begun plans to introduce a new ‘virtual hospital’ to support more patients at home and improve their care.
The health board has agreed a partnership with Doccla, which already provides virtual care solutions to NHS Lanarkshire and Trusts in England, to enable more patients to receive medical support from the comfort of their own homes.
It will help to reduce admissions and shorten hospital stays where appropriate, which will also allow for more capacity and flow through NHSGGC hospitals for those with the most urgent need, and for those who require in person care.
There will be no reduction in the number of physical beds within NHSGGC, with the so-called ‘virtual wards’ adding additional capacity equivalent to 1,000 beds.
Doccla’s technology allows for continuous remote patient monitoring and clinician interventions where necessary. It includes supplying patients with wearable devices that record measurements like blood pressure, allowing health professionals to observe them remotely.
The technology also asks patients to fill in health questionnaires, and a call would be made to them if it identifies an issue, or a community team would be deployed.
NHSGGC’s new virtual hospital is being designed in collaboration with clinicians, who will have extensive input into its development.
Scott Davidson, Medical Director of NHSGGC, said: “The introduction of new virtual wards in Greater Glasgow and Clyde will allow us to deliver safe, compassionate care to many patients from the comfort of their own home.
“We know that many patients would rather be cared for at home than have to travel to or spend lengthy periods in hospital and this will allow us to provide appropriate care to them remotely.
“It will mean they can avoid or have a shorter hospital stay than previously would have been the case.
“Doccla has been delivering virtual care solutions for health boards in other areas of Scotland and the UK, and we are pleased to have agreed this partnership.”
Denise Brown, NHSGGC’s Director of Digital Services, said: “The partnership we have agreed with Doccla is an important and exciting step forward.
“It will allow us to deliver the right care in the right place for our patients, helping us to transform and develop our NHS now and into the future.
“The 1,000 virtual bed hospital will be embedded within our planned Flow Navigation Centre +Plus, and it will reshape health across the Greater Glasgow and Clyde system.”
Dag Larsson, CEO of Doccla, said: “Our partnership with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde marks a major milestone in the evolution of virtual care.
“Together, we are laying the foundation for the hospital of the future—digitally enabled, patient-focused, and built around delivering care where it’s needed most.
“This collaboration reflects our shared ambition to unlock the full potential of virtual healthcare across Europe, starting with meaningful impact for patients in Scotland.”
