Economic evaluation of the Liverpool heart failure virtual ward model

Background: A virtual ward (VW) supports patients who would otherwise need hospitalisation by providing acute care, remote monitoring, investigations, and treatment at home. By March 2024 the VW programme had treated 10 950 patients across six speciality VWs, including heart failure (HF). This evaluation presents the economic assessment of the Liverpool HF VW.

Method: A comprehensive economic cost comparison model was developed by York Health Economics Consortium (University of York) to compare the costs of the VW to standard hospital inpatient care (SC). The model included direct VW costs and additional costs across the care pathway. Costs and resource use for 648 patients admitted to the HF VW were calculated for 30 days post discharge and total cohort costs were extrapolated to a full year. Primary outcomes included costs related to length of stay, readmissions, and NHS 111 contact.

Results: The total cost for the HF VW pathway, including set-up costs, was £467 524. This results in an incremental net cost benefit of £735 512 compared to the total SC cost of £1 203 036, indicating a substantial net cost benefit of £1 135 per patient per episode (PPPE). This advantage remains despite initial setup expenses and ongoing costs such as home visits, virtual consultations, point-of-care (POC) testing and home monitoring equipment.

Conclusion: Our HF VW model offers a substantial net cost benefit, driven by reduced hospital stays, fewer emergency department visits, and lower readmission rates. The study highlights the importance of considering system-wide impacts and continuous monitoring of VWs as they develop.