Access Health, Support and Care (HSC) has formed a partnership with BearingPoint, a consultancy firm, to assist integrated care systems (ICSs) in enhancing the integration and sustainability of virtual wards.
Key Aspects of the Partnership
- The collaboration combines Access HSC’s technology platform, the Access Intelligent Care Platform (AICP), with BearingPoint’s expertise.
- They will work across all 42 ICSs as part of the national virtual wards program.
- The initiative aims to embed virtual wards within local systems, addressing fragmentation and breaking down silos on a national level.
Insights from Leadership
Steve Wightman, General Manager for Access Healthcare, emphasized the importance of designing virtual wards around people’s lives, stating:
“Virtual wards must be more than an extension of the hospital. They should be designed around people’s lives, supported by tools that bring services together.”
Challenges in Virtual Ward Implementation
Despite the potential benefits, several challenges persist:
- Fragmented discharge processes
- Limited access to real-time information
- Overstretched community teams
The AICP aims to address these issues by integrating information from various sectors, including health, social care, mental health, and community services. This integration provides professionals with a comprehensive view of patient care, facilitating better coordination of holistic support.
Recent Developments
The AICP was launched in May 2025 at the Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust and Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, focusing on:
- Reducing administrative burdens
- Improving care coordination
- Providing faster support at home
Dan Roulstone, Director at BearingPoint, noted the opportunity presented by integrated virtual wards, stating:
“Delivering on the business case and making tangible improvements for patients and professionals depend on more than just scaling technology.”
Alignment with National Health Goals
Access HSC and BearingPoint will assist ICSs in implementing virtual wards in accordance with national frameworks, aligning with the NHS 10-Year Health Plan published on July 3, 2025. This plan emphasizes:
- Shifting care from hospitals to community settings
- Understanding virtual ward capacity and planning effectively with ambulance services
- Expanding the hospital-at-home program within the first three years
In February 2025, NHS England commissioned an evaluation to assess the impact of its national virtual wards initiative, which currently operates over 12,000 virtual ‘beds’ nationwide. In May 2024, proposals were announced to enhance access to virtual wards to reduce avoidable hospital admissions and emergency department waiting times.
Upcoming Events
The Access Group has been announced as a co-headline sponsor for Digital Health Rewired 2026, alongside Optum.