Thousands have now benefited from internationally recommended COVID remote monitoring scheme

In this latest blog for NHS England and NHS Improvement, National Clinical Director for Infection, Antimicrobial Resistance and Deterioration, Dr Matt Inada Kim, explains how COVID Oximetry @home services have proved vital during the pandemic by providing pulse oximeters to high risk COVID patients so they can monitor their condition at home.

Acting as an early warning system for spotting signs of deterioration, at least 37,000 people have now benefited from this scheme, available across England to eligible patients, as well as a related COVID ‘virtual ward’ scheme which supports people to recover at home after admission to hospital. 

The learning is now being incorporated into the design of other care pathways as part of the NHS @home programme. To find out more visit the NHS England and NHS Improvement website, or email england.home@nhs.net. 

Julia is one of many who says her life has been saved by this initiative. She was discharged to the trust’s virtual ward after being treated at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. She said: “I believe I owe my life to James Cook and in particular, the role the virtual ward played in looking after me. I could never thank them enough.”