Experts from University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) are holding a virtual health talk focusing on ‘Hospital at Home’ followed by an interactive workshop about the NHS 10 Year Plan.

Taking place on Thursday 6 February at 5.30pm, the online talk will explain what ‘Hospital at Home’ is and the benefits this brings to patients being cared for in their own homes.

Presenters Dr Tom Bartlett, Consultant Geriatrician and UHD Clinical Lead for Hospital at Home and Karen Bowers, Matron for Hospital at Home Virtual Ward at UHD, will present and take questions from an online audience before the workshop starts.

Karen Bowers, Matron for Hospital at Home Virtual Ward at UHD, said: “Hospital at Home provides eligible patients with safe, effective person-centred care from specialist teams in the comfort of their own home.

“The care delivered is equivalent to that received in an acute hospital setting and will vary depending on the health and care needs of the patient. It is a safe and efficient alternative to in-patient bedded care. The benefits of this are reduced risk of infection and deconditioning and the possibility of getting well quicker in your own home environment, with access to support from friends and family.

“Patient feedback on the service is very positive and a variety of clinical pathways are currently offered with more being explored.

“If you’re interested in finding out more about how this works, please logon to the event in February.”

The interactive workshop after the health talk, will include a presentation giving a background to the NHS 10 Year Plan and questions focusing on three areas: moving more care from hospitals to communities; making better use of technology; and preventing sickness, not just treating it. Feedback will be collated and fed back to NHS England.

The free, virtual event is open to everyone, and no booking is required. The health talk will be recorded and added to UHD’s health talk library after the event. Click on the link available at www.uhd.nhs.uk/index.php/news/public-engagement-events on the day and time of the event to join.