Hospital at Home: Remote hospital care programme 'to increase beds by 50%'

A further £3.6m has been allocated to the NHS’s remote hospital care service supporting more than 150 extra virtual beds.

Hospital at Home aims to provide a “safe, patient centred alternative” to an acute hospital admission for patients in the comfort of their own home while helping reduce pressure on the health service.

The investment for 2023-24, which will take the total funding in the service to more than £10.7m since 2020, will increase patients managed through Hospital at Home by 50% – an additional 156 beds.

Funding will be available to existing services, and areas yet to develop Hospital at Home, with improvement support provided by Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

Health Secretary Michael Matheson said: “Hospital at Home has already proved to be very successful and most importantly, beneficial to patients and the wider system.

“That’s why we have allocated a further £3.6m so more people can be managed at home rather than in hospital.

“Patients have spoken very positively about the service and it also reduces pressure on A&E and the Scottish Ambulance Service by avoiding admissions and accelerating discharge. Hospital beds will always be available to people who need them, but this is a better alternative for many.”

Belinda Robertson, Associate Director of Improvement, Healthcare Improvement Scotland said: “We’re delighted the Scottish Government will continue to fund the development of Hospital At Home services. An increasing number of patients are experiencing the benefits of receiving acute hospital care at home.

“More and more NHS boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships are embracing Hospital At Home by establishing and developing services. We will continue to support NHS boards and Partnerships to further develop the services they provide, and share learning across all Hospital At Home services.”