Hospital at Home Programme in the UK: Set Up with QuickChange

With the spread of the epidemic in 2019, hospitals became overcrowded, creating a need to relieve them of patients. This is how the Hospital at Home programme actually appeared. The programme has become a comfortable and efficient solution for both patients and hospitals. Many people have the opportunity to use this programme, including patients with limited mobility and urinary incontinence. In the United Kingdom, the Hospital at Home programme was scaled up at the beginning of the pandemic with the support of the National Health Service (NHS England). Read the article to learn about the benefits and convenience of Hospital at Home and how to set it up.

What is Hospital at Home in the UK?

Hospital at home (HaH), also known as a virtual ward, is an initiative to provide medical services that meet the criteria for treating patients in hospitals at their own homes. In the UK, the medical care at home approach has gained popularity among elderly men, men with chronic diseases, and especially patients with urinary incontinence due to its convenience and comfort. For patients requiring incontinence care, this approach is particularly beneficial due to the privacy, reduced risk of infection, and individualized approach to treating urinary incontinence.

Depending on the country, the Hospital at Home programme can also be either Hospital in the Home (HITH) or Home Hospital. In the United Kingdom, the term ‘virtual wards’ was widely used until 2024, when the British Geriatrics Society and the Royal College of Physicians published a statement advocating the official adoption of the term ‘hospital at home’. The choice in favour of Hospital at Home was made to more accurately reflect the provision of medical care and give patients a better understanding of the services.

As we mentioned earlier, in the UK, this approach was introduced by the National Health Service (NHS England) and also Local Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). Apart from separate cases, the hospital to home service is also part of such UK initiatives as Virtual Wards or Enhanced Care at Home. The programme establishes criteria under which certain patients can receive full hospital treatment for acute conditions at home. Home treatment includes round-the-clock remote monitoring, daily visits by nurses or doctors, medication delivery, and coordinated multidisciplinary care. Reviews show that the hospital-at-home programme, compared to traditional inpatient treatment, may sometimes have better outcomes by reducing the number of repeat hospitalisations and increasing patient satisfaction.

Of course, the hospital to home care emerged in the United Kingdom back in the 1990s with the need to relieve overcrowded hospitals. During the 2000s and 2010s, thanks to the NHS, the practice was gradually integrated into the public and geriatric care system, developing so-called ‘virtual wards’ where patients are under clinical supervision without hospitalisation. As with the rest of the world, the COVID-19 pandemic gave a significant boost to the programme, as hospitals needed to reduce the load on inpatient facilities and lower the risk of infection more than ever before. Healthcare at home reduces the risk of hospital-acquired infections and functional decline, improving patient recovery and autonomy.

According to data from HTN (Health Tech Newspaper), the number of virtual wards in the UK as of December 2024 totaled 12,733.

For men with urinary incontinence, the home environment provides privacy, making changing specialized products such as adult diapers less awkward and embarrassing. In addition, they will have constant access to personal hygiene products.

Home hospital crucially requires attentive caregivers, continuous care, and tight professional coordination, but once it's running smoothly, patients will enjoy significant benefits from in-home medical care.

Hospital at Home for Continence Management

Urinary incontinence (UI) is much more common than people think. Unfortunately, due to awkwardness, only 22% of men report this problem. This symptom appears with age, with 11 to 34% of men over 65 experiencing incontinence. The causes are usually overflow, overactive bladder (OAB), and complications after prostate surgery. The reason men rarely seek help is the emotional and social impact, which is greater for men than for women. 

In addition, UI can lead to skin damage, urinary tract infections, social isolation, depression, and early retirement. That is why bringing the hospital to home is a really good solution. As we have already mentioned, the hospital care at home programme offers a way to manage acute conditions while preserving personal habits, skin care, and dignity for men suffering from urinary incontinence.

If a man with an acute illness suffers from urinary incontinence, a home hospital can be a really good alternative solution. Statistics show that home hospital programmes have a lower rate of rehospitalisation and shorter recovery times of approximately 4-7 days. In addition to the opportunity for better hygienic care, treatment at home reduces the risk of nosocomial infections and complications acquired in the hospital, such as bedsores. Let's summarise all the advantages of home health care:

• Faster recovery,

• Lower risk of nosocomial infections,

• Lower risk of complications,

• Privacy, 

• Ability to maintain daily routine and mobility, 

• Individualized care regarding medications, skin protection measures, and scheduled toilet visits,

• Non-surgical treatments, such as pelvic floor exercises and bladder training,

• Less emotional stress due to increased privacy.

Johns Hopkins Medicine also highlights some additional benefits, including:  

• Patients in hospital to home programmes have better clinical outcomes, such as lower mortality rates and reduced use of sedatives for delirium.  

• Improved patient and family satisfaction, reduced caregiver stress, and better functional outcomes.  

• Cost savings of 19% to 30% compared to traditional inpatient care.  

• Fewer laboratory and diagnostic tests compared to similar patients in an acute care hospital.  

• Promotion of a triple aim: clinical quality, accessibility, and exceptional patient experience. 

  

Best Product for Hospital at Home Programme: QuickChange Wraps

In-home treatment programmes allow you to experiment with medical products, which is especially important for achieving complete comfort with urinary incontinence, particularly for patients with limited mobility.

QuickChange Wrap is the best solution among products such as urinary catheters. It is an absorbent device designed specifically for men that absorbs urine at the point of origin, making it particularly useful for men receiving medical care at home. Unlike underwear or diapers, this device is worn directly on the penis with the feature of directing urine into an absorbent core, which reduces prolonged skin contact with moisture. The duration of skin contact with moisture is a key factor in preventing maceration and skin damage. 

QuickChange wraps are also unique because they are easy to change. They can be changed by either the patient or the caregiver, as it takes less than a minute to change the wrap without having to move or lift the patient, which is especially useful when only one person is available. This allows family members who care for the patient to participate in caring for them without any problems or inconveniences, and may reduce the number of visits by nurses.

Key features:

• One size fits all.

• Unique shape, no need to undress or roll over.

• Change in 60 seconds.

• Provides maximum absorbency.

• Holds 17 ounces.

• Promotes skin health.

User reviews:

• “The wrap absorbs moisture and keeps my husband mostly dry overnight. This is a big improvement over the guards he had been using.”

• “The benefits of this product are multi-layered. My initial thought was saving sensitive skin of the scrotum from bowel movements while he was in the hospital because they didn't clean him up quickly. Now that we are at home and that issue has passed, I can see the benefit in a monetary savings on diapers. When he is just wet, I can change the quick change wrap and leave the diaper on. That also saves my back because he's not strong enough to roll himself over.”

• “The fact it only requires one person is a huge help. He's 6 ft tall and trouble standing. This has saved on actual diaper changes. Thank you for the option.”

The product is covered by special NHS prescription codes for male incontinence products, making it eligible for reimbursement under applicable programmes. Supporting hygiene and dignity, QuickChange Wrap integrates seamlessly into modern HaH protocols.

How is the Hospital in Home Organized in the UK?

Now let's move on to the details that you are definitely interested in. Namely, how exactly the hospital in home is organized and what conditions are created for it. 

1. Assessment of condition. As soon as a man with urinary incontinence is admitted to the NHS care at home, the medical team begins with a basic assessment, noting the condition of continence and any problems with skin or mobility.

2. Provision of medication. Next, the necessary materials, dressings, medications, catheters, and other supplies for incontinence and the illness itself are delivered to the patient's home.

3. Visits. Once everything has been delivered and set up, nurses follow the planned protocol. They visit the patient daily at a frequency determined by the doctors. During visits, they measure vital signs, update care plans in the electronic health record (EHR), and educate caregivers on hygiene, toilet schedules, and skin checks.

98.3% of patients feel safe under the care they receive at home. (West Herts’ Hospitals survey)

4. Monitoring and emergency protocols. Infection control checks, such as checking for skin irritation or moisture damage, are part of every nurse's assessment. Healthcare workers also adhere to clear escalation criteria. According to protocol, in the event of a rise in temperature, deterioration in mobility, or signs of infection, care may be transferred back to the hospital. 

5. Financial aspect. From a financial standpoint, services are funded through the National Health Service (NHS), and costs are typically covered under community care agreements or virtual ward arrangements.

What to Consider When Bringing the Hospital Home?

Of course, when you submit a request for healthcare at home, medical professionals will assess your conditions and decide whether this option is right for you, but you can assess the situation yourself and analyze whether you should apply for the programme. Here are the most important aspects to consider before applying.

• Support and care at home. Think about whether you have relatives, friends, or other possible caregivers who can help you with everyday tasks that you would find difficult to do on your own.

• Your availability during the day. Ask yourself if you can schedule time for healthcare professionals to visit your home.    

• How confident are you with technology? These days, technology can be tricky for older people to use. Hospital at Home NHS requires you to learn how to use a tablet to connect with your healthcare team for virtual visits.

• Health insurance options. Check if this option is included in your insurance and how much it covers.

• Distance to the hospital from your home. Depending on your condition or illness, you may need emergency hospital care, so it is important to live close to a hospital. Assess how important it is for your health to have a hospital nearby.

Potential Obstacles, Limitations, and Safety Considerations of a Hospital at Home 

Despite the obvious advantages of home healthcare, there are some inconveniences that come with it. Among the accompanying challenges are:

• Additional workload for caregivers. Nurses will need to travel for visits, which requires additional effort.

• The need for appropriate infrastructure in the home.

• Ensuring timely transfer to the hospital in case of acute deterioration. Of course, medical staff will constantly monitor the patient's condition, but the human organism is unpredictable. The condition can deteriorate instantly, and let's hope that someone will be there. Transfer is indicated in case of worsening confusion, uncontrolled pain, persistent fever, severe urinary retention, or suspected sepsis.

• Suitability of home conditions. Lack of space at home can cause some inconvenience.

• Supply chain logistics.

Clinical oversight in the UK HaH services is delivered under NHS governance and clinical safety standards, with Trusts or Health Boards responsible for patient selection criteria, remote monitoring protocols, and ongoing quality review. Effective patient safety relies on the timely identification of clinical changes as early signs of urinary retention, infection, or skin breakdown.

The Future of Home Hospital Programmes

Technology is advancing, and patients are becoming more knowledgeable and satisfied with receiving treatment at home. This means that home hospital programmes are truly the future. The use of telemedicine is expanding, technology is becoming more accessible and influenced by artificial intelligence, and following the progress of hospital methods, a significant amount of care can truly be transferred to home care. Patients are in favor of receiving treatment outside of the hospital, in a place where they can feel comfortable and safe. 

95.8% of patients surveyed preferred Virtual Hospital care, feeling more comfortable receiving care at home. (West Herts’ Hospitals  survey)

Thanks to already available advanced communication technologies, portable medical equipment, and qualified teams of doctors, home care programmes are already gaining popularity. 

These advanced technologies have helped connect patients to 24/7 command centers via video and monitoring devices that record their vital signs. In addition to daily visits from medical teams to their homes, patients also receive emergency buttons that help them get immediate help when needed, which helps save lives in case of sudden complications.

The approach will become even more popular due to some organizations that periodically face the problem of a shortage of hospital beds. Such organizations can adapt to the capabilities of the healthcare system to provide medical care at home.

Hospital at Home Programme UK: Final Thoughts

In short, Hospital at Home is a great programme that makes the recovery process much more comfortable, especially for men with urinary incontinence. However, it also has certain features that need to be taken into account before joining. Home treatment is certainly an attractive option, but it may not be suitable for everyone. Nevertheless, modern technology and the rapid development of the programme during the pandemic have made it an excellent option for receiving care. This model helps achieve a triple goal by improving access to medical care, reducing costs, and improving the quality of treatment. With healthcare at home, patients are more satisfied and have a lower risk of hospital-acquired infections.  

If you have already made up your mind and are going to apply for the HaH programme, don't forget about QuickChange wraps, which are the best solution for patients with urinary incontinence. Buy in advance!

This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read or seen here.