This page provides links to recent articles in
chronological order, with the latest first. It includes a range of publications from the UK, Australia and France and blogs posted on LinkedIn. English language translations are at the end and, unless otherwise stated, Tara is the author.
For videos, podcasts and spoken word versions of articles, please see the
Video & Podcasts tab.
Further resources and links to support as well as research on digital home care can be found at the Resources tab.
In this White Paper, written with Martin Ratz, we’ve given thought as to how technology can best be harnessed to support the three shifts we seek to make across the NHS; hospital to home, analogue to digital and treatment to prevention.
The forthcoming 10 year plan for the NHS is a great opportunity to make a step change in provision and so we consider the digital solutions worthy of NHS wide scale to make a real difference to patient care and the staff who support them.
For full article click on image above
29 November 2024
Article in The Future of Health supplement within The Times by Jon Axworthy including an interview with Tara on the benefits of virtual wards in terms of the NHS workforce and expanding the reach of clinicians.
The piece also covers how these could broaden into solutions that help keep long term conditions well managed.
For full article click on image above
22 November 2024
Article in Asian Hospital and Healthcare Management on the development of tech enabled virtual wards in the UK. From their beginnings in March 2020 as part of the NHS’ pandemic response to the present day.
The piece also explains the different aspects of digital home care and the purposes they can best be used for.
For full article click on image above
20 November 2024
At the NHS Providers Annual Conference, I shared the stage with Sarah Brierley as we told the story of impressive work in Hertfordshire to look after people living with Heart Failure in a very different way. That tech-enabled home care had reduced A&E attendances by one-third in the supported cohort, reduced readmissions - there were none at all in the group with remote monitoring - improved symptoms and increased confidence. Such that the service had won an award for the team, working across East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust and Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust. It’s the model of care I believe should be the norm for people living with progressive diseases such as Heart Failure and COPD and this is a write-up of our talk and the results.
For full article click on image above
18 November 2024
Highlights from this year's NHS Providers annual conference and a fascinating case study from Leeds HomeFirst programme.
HomeFirst demonstrates the impact of this collaborative approach with over 1,000 people able to stay in their own home so far.
For full article click on image above
14 November 2024
The first in a short blog series on the difference remote monitoring can make to people living with Heart Failure, and indeed to the NHS more broadly, sharing some of the results of this programme that has been running across England.
For full article click on image above
28 October 2024
In this article I argue that a bold commitment to tech would deliver benefits in the key areas for action identified by Lord Darzi and agreed by the government
This article appeared in Digital Health
For full article click on image above
23 October 2024
Digital Care is delighted to announce that we will be involved in delivering scaling support to the five Finalists of the Longitude Prize on Dementia, funded by Alzheimer's Society and Innovate UK, and delivered by Challenge Works.
Our team, led by Jenny Thomas and in partnership with Challenge Works and PUBLIC, will be delivering a bespoke accelerator to five tech teams as the next stage in the Challenge.
This work involves Tara, Jenny and Lesley.
For full article click on image above.
9 October 2024
The French Government have brought in pioneering legislation in support of digital home care across their health care system. A visit to Nantes to find out more and share the UK experience.
For full article click on image above.
4 October 2024
A visit to Vancouver to meet a range of health leaders from 12 countries provides a chance to catch up with some innovative uses of digital home care in Canada.
For full article click on image above.
23 September 2024
With a "back to school" feeling at the start of September, it feels a suitable moment to reflect on what the team at Digital Care have been engaged in over recent months.
For full article click on image above.
2 September 2024
Article in Public Sector Focus magazine.
I cover the rise in virtual ward beds in the UK, how this is part of a global movement where hospital-at-home is increasing, that the model much loved by patients, particularly the elderly, and that it is encouraging to see it move beyond acute provision into proactive care of those at greatest risk of hospital admission
For full article click on image above.
30 August 2024
How identifying those that could benefit most and providing them with remote monitoring tech, we can reduce emergency admissions in those with severe COPD.
A new fund announced for Winter 24/25 by NHS England can provide an important contribution to proactive care programmes, and these are top tips in setting up such a scheme.
For full article click on image above.
29 July 2024
Over 9,000 people were cared for in Virtual Wards in June 2024, an all time record.
This blog provides more info on the current picture of Virtual Wards in England using data published by the national team.
For full article click on image above.
29 July 2024
The Health Foundation hosted an excellent event on AI in the NHS recently, with Health Minister Karin Smith joining to give her first speech in the role.
Here's my take on some of the key messages.
For full article click on image above.
19 July 2024
Webinar recording now out on "Using remote monitoring for long term condition management - the Bristol Story" - how supporting people with severe COPD is dramatically reducing hospitalisation rates.
Keeping people well at home with simple, intuitive technology and clinical supervision, rather than enduring countless hospital stays.
For full article click on image above.
16 July 2024
Ireland has embarked on an ambitious virtual ward programme, aiming to reach all significant clinical settings over 18 months. The first hospitals are in Limerick and Dublin and given my Irish heritage and passion for this model of care, this is an exciting moment indeed, particularly given one of my clients Doccla has been awarded the tech partner for the whole programme.
For full article click on image above.
12 July 2024
How AI is changing the way we deliver healthcare in the UK. Tara explores how AI can bring improvements in the quality and outcomes of healthcare, from AI surgical assistants to better preventative medicine and remote monitoring reach.
Article published in the summer edition of Centre Write Magazine, page 33.
For full article click on image above.
June 2024
Blog about an amazing day with the teams working across the Royal London Hospital, doing terrific work to keep babies, children and adults at home as far as possible thanks to tech enablement and virtual wards.
For full article click on image above.
10 June 2024
With new announcements from NHS England on expanding virtual ward capacity and services to support urgent care, hot on the heels of the publication of the largest study of the impact of virtual wards - it is a great time to be bolder about plans for the future.
Article published in DIgital Health Magazine -
click on image above to view
24 May 2024
A terrific visit to the Virtual Ward at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, showing the CEO of Te Whata Ora | Health New Zealand, Margie Apa how these work in the NHS.
Many thanks to the team for taking us through these services - it is clearly a very impressive set up.
For full article click on image above.
21 May 2024
Reflections from Riyadh - and the largest telehealth and virtual care expo in the Middle East.
Covering our panel session on remote monitoring and virtual wards, with perspectives from the UK, Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
For full article click on image above.
13 May 2024
It was great to meet the team delivering this clearly well-loved service in Herne Bay recently.
Alongside remote monitoring tech they are using home based point of care labs and ultrasound as they innovate to provide hospital level care in the comfort of peoples' own homes.
For full article click on image above.
29 April 2024
I'm really proud of the Living Well with COPD service we've set up with the team at Bristol and it's been a fantastic collaboration.
One aspect provided is Health Coaching for those living with severe COPD and here is more about that brilliant team at Doccla and what they do to help people stay well at home for longer.
For full article click on image above.
23 April 2024
There is huge scope to extend the reach and impact of virtual wards and remote monitoring. In virtual wards, the NHS leads Europe but must act now if it is not to be overtaken by France, Germany and Denmark the use of remote monitoring for long term conditions.
Article published in Digital Health magazine.
For full article click on image above.
17 April 2024
Denmark believes this model makes economic sense as well as being much preferred by patients. I think it would be great for the UK to do the same - with huge benefits all round - to the NHS and patients alike.
Episode two in a short series focusing on new ways of managing COPD.
For full article click on image above.
15 April 2024
The first in a two-part series on virtual wards for Digital Health magazine.
Outlining the excellent progress on virtual wards across the NHS in England but highlighting that there there is more to do on tech enablement.
For full article click on image above.
11 April 2024
Reflections from the Digital Health Rewired conference, on virtual wards and the huge opportunity of supporting those with COPD with home monitoring.
Episode one in a short series focusing on new ways of
managing COPD.
For full article click on image above.
15 March 2024
It has been a year since I set up Digital Care and it has been a year of firsts, some of which are outlined in this blog.
With a shout out to the amazing clients we have worked with in year one and the phenomenal team.
For full article click on image above.
1 March 2024
Have you seen NHS Emeritus, this new way for retired and semi-retired consultants to work flexibly to see outpatients?
What if we could do the same linking nurses and other staff to roles in virtual wards?
For full article click on image above.
21 Feb 2024
One of the best parts of my job is spending time in the frontline.
This is an account of my visit to the impressive virtual ward service in Oldham, Greater Manchester, led by Professor
Emma Vardy and supported by Doccla.
For full article click on image above.
9 Feb 2024
Article highlighting the evidence on costs and cost effectiveness of virtual wards was reprinted in this Australian Health publication.
For full article click on image above.
This version is on an open link so accessible without a LinkedIn account.
2 Feb 2024
Review of recent trip to Paris visiting the PariSante Campus and attending the Future of People-Centred Health Innovation - a high-level policy forum involving health ministers and leaders from across the 37 members of the OECD.
For full article click on image above.
1 Feb 2024
Article highlighting the evidence on costs and cost effectiveness of virtual wards.
For more on the evidence base for virtual wards and remote monitoring see the Resources page of this website.
For full article click on image above.
29 Jan 2024
Last year, France became the first European country to reimburse remote monitoring for all eligible patients, an exciting development.
This week I visited Paris to meet colleagues and find out more about how this is affecting healthcare & what we can learn from their approach in the UK.
For full article click on image above.
24 Jan 2024
Article published in The Future Health newsletter on a number of overlooked advancements in the NHS, contributing to more care at, and closer to, home.
Expansion of virtual wards, social prescribing, more care in pharmacies and new staff in primary care. Thanks to Kevin McDonnell for the invitation.
For full article click on image above.
22 Jan 2024
Interview with SIH Solutions, the French magazine on innovation in e-health, on the NHS’ journey into digital home care with Melanie Foissey.
The article is in French, for an English translation see “Translations” section below.
For full article click on image above.
20 Dec 2023
About the amazing NHS and Care Volunteer Responders and how they can provide support at home to people on virtual wards.
For full article click on image above.
1 Dec 2023
Interview in the Health Foundation's newsletter on what the future of healthcare may look like.
Photo credit: Emile Holba
For full article click on image above.
28 Nov 2023
Article in the HSJ from Professor Natasha Phillips, Digital Care consultant, on why virtual wards matter. With insights from a professional and a personal perspective.
Sponsored by: Doccla
For full article click on image above.
21 Nov 2023
Reflections from Breid O'Brien, Digital Care consultant, on virtual care following a period of travel. Covering progress, evaluation, real world stories, quintuple aim and more.
For full article click on image above.
13 November 2023
Article in HSJ on revolutionising long-term condition management in the NHS with remote monitoring.
Includes examples from a range of NHS sites doing just that as well as encouragement to use recently announced funding to support this expansion in digital home care.
For full article click on image above.
Sponsored by: Doccla
13 October 2023
Announcing an expansion of our partnership with Doccla, the Virtual Ward company, as in addition to Tara & Jenny we are pleased that Professor Natasha Phillips has also come on board.
For full article click on image above.
28 Sept 2023
Contributed to this article in Health Tech World. "AI, used in conjunction with remote monitoring, could review vital sign information [...] Using this data the AI can act as a clinical co-pilot to the team, prioritising those most in need"
For full article click on image above.
22 Sept 2023
Article in Health Spaces - "NHS Departments are having to think and plan creatively and to provide extra capacity for surges in demand, learning the lessons from previous winters, adapting existing space and creating new spaces where needed."
For full article click on image above.
21 Sept 2023
Article in the Integrated Care Journal on the increasing recognition that digital solutions could help alleviate winter pressures with examples from Herts Community NHS Trust, Northampton General Hospital and Bristol ICB, BNSSG & its Trusts.
For full article click on image above.
Sponsored by Doccla
20 Sept 2023.
Article on three large public surveys this summer demonstrating the demand for digital home care. Including 78% surveyed saying they'd be happy to use home health monitoring if their NHS professional recommended it, rising to 89% of over 75s.
For full article click on image above.
12 Sept 2023
Article in FORTIS magazine for NHS leaders "what I'd love to see now is us using remote monitoring to "winter proof" people". Pages 27-30.
To subscribe and get hard copy or digital versions of FORTIS quarterly, register at www.health-spaces.com
For full article click on image above.
Launch issue Sept 2023
There are many ways in which digital home care can help improve urgent and emergency care and this aims to connect common NHS challenges with solutions.
A quick 3 minute read.
For full article click on image above.
Sept 2023
Article on the NHS reaching its target of 10,000 virtual ward beds & Hertfordshire Community Trust celebrating its 1,000th virtual ward patient.
Featuring Edna Webber, 90, who says "the service has been excellent. It's so much better for me to be at home - I can have what I like to eat, a nice cup of tea and good night's sleep in my own bed. I felt like I made a quicker recovery because I was at home."
For full article click on image above.
30 October 2023
Second blog in the UEC series on how digital home care can help with urgent demand and winter pressures.
Five more ways that remote monitoring
can help.
For full article click on image above.
August 2023
Last winter was one of the toughest ever for the NHS. What can we do to make the
next one better?
Here are five ways that remote monitoring
can make a difference, with examples of where it is doing so, right now.
For full article click on image above.
July 2023
Article in WIRED magazine on the anniversary of the NHS’ 75th Birthday & what we'd like to see in the future.
If you’d prefer to listen to it there is a spoken edition below
For full article click on image above.
July/Aug 2023
Article in HSJ’s "The Download", asking if the significance and potential of digital home care is passing some health leaders by.
While there has been huge progress across the NHS, particularly in Virtual Wards, it feels as though the full potential is yet to be realised, particularly in terms of urgent care and long term condition manage
Article in HSJ’s "The Download", asking if the significance and potential of digital home care is passing some health leaders by.
While there has been huge progress across the NHS, particularly in Virtual Wards, it feels as though the full potential is yet to be realised, particularly in terms of urgent care and long term condition management.
My thoughts in this interview with the Health Service Journal.
For full article click on image above.
July 2023
What's can we learn about scaling digital home care from Denmark?
Following a health tech visit to Copenhagen, these were my top five:
1 National shortlist of must dos focusing on digital home care
2 Incentives related to their progress
3 Impressive results in COPD at Home
4 Funded time off for carers
5 Healthy partnerships with the public a
What's can we learn about scaling digital home care from Denmark?
Following a health tech visit to Copenhagen, these were my top five:
1 National shortlist of must dos focusing on digital home care
2 Incentives related to their progress
3 Impressive results in COPD at Home
4 Funded time off for carers
5 Healthy partnerships with the public and private sectors
For full article click on image above.
May 2023
This one is not by me but is one of my absolute favourites on the topic.
A superb long form article by Helen Ouyang in the New York Times Magazine (audio link also available in the piece) about the history of the home care movement in the US and
where this is now going.
Photography credit:
Kholood Eid
- for the New York Times
For full article click on image above.
Jan 2023
The five dimensions of quality in healthcare -
1 Improving the experience of care, 2 Improving population Health, 3 Reducing Costs
4 Staff & workforce wellbeing
5 Advancing Health Equity
The article provides examples of each from NHS digital home care sites
Our company seeks to help clients with these five dimensions (see Our Goals)
For full article click on image above.
Jan 2023
"People in hospital often yearn for the normality and comfort of home"
Quote by Nisha Jose, MerseyCare
TeleHealth Hub
This blog describes the impressive TeleHealth Hub run by MerseyCare Foundation Trust following our visit there
For full article click on image above.
Nov 2022
"I think it's absolutely amazing!"
Great results being achieved for people living with COPD including a huge reduction in emergency admissions thanks to clinical supervision with digital support.
Examples from different parts of the NHS including Airedale, Cheshire, Merseyside
and Leicester.
For full article click on image above.
Oct 2022
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