More Fifers are to be treated at home, NHS Fife has confirmed.

A business case to expand its Hospital Without Walls initiative has been approved.

The scheme aims to reduce pressure on hospital beds and have people cared for in their own surroundings.

A hospital at home service is currently operating in Fife but, following the approval of a new business case, this is to be increased significantly with the ambition of 125 virtual beds being available.

NHS are set to treat more people at home with the expansion of its hospital without walls initiative | Pic Contributed

Supported by remote monitoring technology, clinicians will be able to track patients’ health while they remain at home, reducing the need for inpatient care where it is safe and appropriate to do so.

A report to NHS Fife board members explained: “The business case identifies benefits for patient experience, system flow, admission avoidance, acute capacity and financial sustainability, including an estimated recurring benefit of around £2 million from reduced surge-bed use and associated staffing and operational costs.

“The model aims to provide safe, effective, person-centred hospital-level care closer to home, with consultant responsibility, multidisciplinary review, monitoring and escalation routes.

“It supports realistic medicine by directing people to the right pathway, avoiding unnecessary hospital exposure and focusing on patient outcomes.”

Gillian McAuley, director of nursing, said the expansion would have a “whole system” approach.

She said: “Our hospital without walls proposal really validates what we need to do in terms of going forward. It is focused on improving access, improving flow and keeping that key concept of care as close to home as possible.”

Director of Acute Services Claire Dobson said the hospital at home service had been well established over a number of years.

“The ambition is to have 125 virtual beds with that care but also specialist remotely monitored pathways,” she added.

Lynne Garvey, director of Fife’s health and social care partnership, welcomed the expansion.

“For us, the message is better outcomes, dependant on coordinated discussion, taking shared responsibility and a real smooth transition between our services and the person at the centre of all the discussions.”