First virtual hospital wards to be launched for Limerick patients

PATIENTS from University Hospital Limerick are among those to benefit from a new virtual ward and remote patient monitoring service being launched in Ireland. 

Doccla has partnered with the HSE to launch the service. 

This will enable hospital-level treatment at home, with an initial 

The first two wards will be launched at the end of the first quarter of this year. 

The service will allow patients to receive acute care, monitoring, and treatment in the comfort of their own homes, reducing the need for inpatient hospital stays.

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It will offer a safe and efficient alternative to traditional in-patient care with remote healthcare. 

It’s particularly suitable for patients who are stable, but require ongoing care before discharge from the hospital. 

Based on this model in other countries, patients have experienced better recovery, a higher satisfaction with care, lower risk of hospital-acquired infections and lower cost of travel to and from the hospital. 

Martin Ratz, the co-founder of Doccla said: “This initiative represents a significant step forward in patient care, providing hospital-level treatment in the comfort of patients’ homes. 

Professor Richard Greene, HSE Chief Clinical Information Officer said: “The HSE Virtual Ward Initiative is an innovative programme that uses digital and technology solutions to support patients in getting home from hospital sooner, with the remote monitoring and care they need.

Depending on the impact of the programme in UHL and St Vincent’s in Dublin, it’s hoped that the programme will be rolled out to more hospitals later this year and in 2025.