Patients may be referred to the service by healthcare professionals who have assessed the patient, across Hull and East Yorkshire. Patients and carers who are already known to the Respiratory Clinical Assessment Service (RCAS) may self‑refer for consideration of direct admission to the Respiratory Virtual Ward.

All referrals will be triaged by a member of the RCAS team to determine clinical appropriateness for admission to the Virtual Ward. Triage will be undertaken in line with agreed clinical criteria and governance arrangements.

Where patients are deemed eligible, they will be admitted to the Respiratory Virtual Ward and receive treatment in their own home. Care will be delivered by a multidisciplinary team comprising specialist respiratory nurses and physiotherapists, with oversight and support from a respiratory consultant.

The Respiratory Virtual Ward aims to provide safe, effective, and patient‑centred care as an alternative to inpatient admission, supporting admission avoidance and facilitating early supported discharge where appropriate.

 

Exclusion Criteria

• NEWS2 >4 (unless patient has declined admission against medical advice and/or agreed by Virtual Ward Consultant)
• Medical emergencies, requiring acute/ complex diagnostics and /or clinical intervention
• Suspected diagnosis other than AECOPD, as cause for current presentation.
• New ECG changes.
• Requires IV therapy.
• Requires new O2 requirement.
• New, untreated atrial fibrillation.
• Considered inappropriate for VW by RCAS clinician during triage.
• VW at capacity.

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https://humberandnorthyorkshire.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Humber-and-North-Yorkshire-Integrated-Care-Board-COPD-Guideline-2025_Clean.docx

 

To make a referral, contact the RCAS Respiratory Virtual Ward - Mon – Fri 08:00 – 16:00.

OOH Answer phone with a call back  - Mon – Fri 16:00 – 18:00 & Sat/Sun 08:00 – 18:00.

Eligigibility Criteria

• Referral from a health care professional that has assessed the patient or patient self-referral if already known to the RCAS team.
• Confirmed diagnosis of COPD
• Suspected or confirmed exacerbation of COPD
• At risk of hospital admission

Do not refer

• Does not have a confirmed diagnosis of COPD
• Is not at risk of hospital admission

Respiratory Virtual Ward HUTH

Patient Information Leaflet ARI Ward

HNY HCP - Diagnosing and Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Guideline 2025

 

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