CareAnywhere 2026: The NHS Virtual Wards to Virtual Hospitals Strategy Conference

Virtual care is rapidly evolving from targeted innovation programmes into a foundational component of NHS service delivery. Virtual wards, hospital at home, remote monitoring and digitally enabled outpatient pathways are now recognised as critical tools for improving patient flow, managing hospital capacity and delivering care closer to home.

Over the past three years, the NHS has expanded virtual ward capacity significantly, with more than 12,500 virtual ward beds operational across England. However, the focus of national policy is now shifting from expansion targets toward sustainability, clinical outcomes and integration into routine care pathways.

Alongside virtual wards, NHS organisations are increasingly developing virtual hospital models, enabling specialist teams to deliver acute-level care remotely through digital monitoring, multidisciplinary teams and coordinated community services.

Looking ahead, the NHS is preparing for a broader phase of digitally enabled care delivery, including the development of NHS Online services expected from 2027, designed to expand digital access to clinical care, remote consultations and integrated monitoring across pathways.

Despite strong policy support and rapid growth, many NHS organisations are now facing the practical challenges of embedding virtual care into everyday operations.

Key challenges include:

• Integrating remote monitoring data into existing EPR and community systems.
• Developing safe escalation pathways between home, community and hospital teams.
• Ensuring workforce confidence and capability in hybrid care delivery models.
• Designing clinically safe virtual hospital models for higher acuity patients.
• Demonstrating measurable impact on admissions avoidance, length of stay and patient outcomes.
• Addressing digital inclusion and equitable access to remote care services.

As virtual wards evolve into broader virtual care systems, NHS leaders must now move from implementation to optimisation, governance and long-term service sustainability.