14 May 2026
A virtual ward pilot for older adults with complex mental health needs, including dementia, is showing positive early results in Sussex.
Building on the success of virtual wards for physical health, the service is delivered through a combination of remote and community-based in-person care to meet the physical and mental health needs of older adults.
For older adults and people living with dementia, being admitted to hospital can be very distressing and confusing. They often spend longer in hospital and experience delays in being discharged while support for their ongoing care is organised.
Through this new model of care, patients admitted to the virtual ward remain at home or in their care home and receive joined up mental and physical healthcare from a specialist multidisciplinary team from Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.
By treating patients at home, mental health crises can be managed earlier, it supports faster recovery and prevents admissions to hospital, freeing up beds for patients whose needs cannot be met in the community.
Launched initially in East Sussex, we hope to extend this service across Sussex, working in partnership Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust.
The pilot is part of a wider transformation programme in Sussex to support older people to remain in their home or care home rather than be admitted to hospital. There has also been investment in the expansion of the Intensive Support Practitioner teams across Sussex, which provides rapid, hands‑on support to people at home who might otherwise need to be admitted to hospital.
Dr Laura Brummer, Clinical Director for the East Sussex Division, said: "By investing more in community services for older adults and people living with dementia, this gives us more options for how we deliver high quality care, and for this to be led by a person's needs and wishes.
"The virtual ward model allows us to provide physical and mental health hospital-level oversight whilst enabling patients to remain safely at home wherever possible."
Dr Fraser MacNicoll, Consultant Psychiatrist and clinical lead for the pilot, said: "Working in this way enables us to provide the right level of specialist dementia and mental health care while people remain in the comfort and familiarity of their own surroundings. For people living with dementia and older adults with mental health needs, this can be especially beneficial in reducing distress, maintaining independence and involving families more closely in care."
Joanna Byers. Head of Nursing for Rapid Response and Virtual Wards at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "We are pleased to be working together with Sussex Partnership on this pilot, which represents a strong example of effective cross-provider collaboration. It supports the strategic aim of integrating physical and mental health services to better meet the needs of patients within their own homes.
Early indications show this model is helping to prevent hospital admissions for older people and delivering a positive experience for patients through a truly integrated pathway. We are now looking to consolidate the pathway and build on this learning as the pilot expands into West Sussex."
