Delivering hospital-level respiratory care at home is transforming outcomes for patients living with COPD. The Community Acute Respiratory Excellence (CARE) Virtual Ward has now been recognised with the Best Nursing & Midwifery Led Project award at the HSE Spark Innovation Awards 2026.
Developed to support people living with respiratory conditions such as COPD, the CARE Virtual Ward delivers hospital-level care in patients’ homes through remote monitoring, rapid clinical assessment and personalised care pathways.
Delivering Hospital Care at Home
The CARE Virtual Ward introduces Ireland’s first 20-bed digitally enabled respiratory service, led by Advanced Nurse Practitioners and supported by multidisciplinary teams.
Using continuous remote monitoring and real-time clinical oversight, the service enables early intervention, helping patients manage their condition safely at home while reducing the need for hospital admissions.
This proactive, patient-centred model bridges primary and secondary care, providing faster access to clinical support while improving the overall patient experience.
Delivering Measurable Results
Since its implementation, the programme has demonstrated significant clinical and operational benefits, including:
- 934 hospital bed days saved
- Over €4.2 million in estimated healthcare system value
- 20% reduction in COPD admissions
- 50% reduction in readmissions, with rates falling from 28.7% to 13.9% within ten months
- Improved quality of life and symptom management for patients
- 29% increase in patient self-management confidence
These outcomes highlight how digitally enabled virtual care can improve patient outcomes while reducing pressure on healthcare services.
A Collaborative Achievement
Congratulations to Antoinette Doherty, the respiratory integrated care team in Letterkenny, and everyone involved in delivering this innovative model of care.
At myPatientSpace, we are proud to support healthcare teams in delivering digital solutions that empower patients, improve clinical outcomes and help transform healthcare beyond the hospital walls.