PATIENTS in South Cumbria will be welcomed to a new virtual hospital ward.

The ‘Pulse Oximetry at Home’ service is being provided by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and will be available for residents of Cumbria and Lancashire.

The home monitor service will be made available for people with positive Covid tests and who have been identified as clinically vulnerable to having low blood oxygen levels due to a pre-existing health condition.

A Pulse Oximeter is a small, lightweight device that is used to monitor the amount of oxygen carried in a person’s body.

Dr Tim Gatheral, a Respiratory Consultant at UHMBT, is working with Emergency Department (ED) colleagues to ensure that patients who present in the ED and who could be discharged home with monitoring, can receive support.

Tim said: “It’s vitally important patients know can identify danger signs of deterioration and are able to seek urgent help if they feel worse.

“By using oximeters to monitor patients in the community we can help by tracking people’s signs of early deterioration, especially in those with less obvious symptoms.

“The use of devices and mobile apps alongside clinical care is already saving lives and is enabling teams like mine to personalise the care we can provide to patients with COVID-19 or long-term conditions and improve their experience whilst ensuring they remain safe and well.”