Tutorial presented by Dr Katherine Hickman, GP and National Primary Care Clinical Lead for the RCP’s National Asthma and COPD Audit Programme (NACAP)

With every entry into nursing and care homes posing a risk to those inside, the traditional Ward Round is no longer suitable.

The ‘virtual ward round’ via telephone or video consultation quickly became the norm for primary care teams. Video consultations have become an essential tool, allowing visual assessment of a patient and supported by the provision of pulse oximeters, thermometers and other technology to care homes.

Listening to the concerns and trusting the instincts of our care team colleagues has been crucial to the safety and success of these virtual ward rounds, allowing proactive management of patients rather than reactive management.