FYDoctor in Virtual Hospital

Virtual Acute Care Unit (VACU) Team at RBFT

The Virtual Acute Care Unit (VACU) team at the Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust (RBFT) is forward thinking and dynamic, always willing to embrace new ways of working that benefit our patients. This is an exciting opportunity to help to continue the development and management of the RBFT’s VHS directorate.

The services operates from 08:00 - 20:00hrs across 7 days, the roster will reflect the need to provide cover during these times with an approximately 1:3.5 - 1:4 weekend cover.

The successful candidates will support the management of patients remotely in a place they call home as opposed to within an onsite in‑patient bed.

• Virtual Management
  - With the use of remote monitoring equipment, telephony systems, remote assessment and management.
• Face to Face
  - Through the dedicated VACU's clinical space, when the patient needs necessitate physical examinations, diagnostics & imaging, as well as treatments such as invasive line placement and IV therapies.
• VACU@home
  - As we continue to develop, we have successfully piloted our VACU@home service that allows for delivery of care within the patients own home, this remains part of our road map.

The average day consists of arriving at the VACU on the Royal Berkshire Hospital site, where following the operational meeting & handover, an allocated caseload of patients will be assigned to each team member. The post holders will work within the multi‑disciplinary team, consisting of VACU Consultants and speciality teams, Physician Associates, Nursing Staff, dedicated Pharmacist and Clinical Administrators, to provide the service.

• take part in the management of patients that meet the eligibility criteria to be managed by the VACU service.
• work across all 7 days of the week on site at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
• support the development of the VACU across care pathways at the RBFT, ensuring safe and high quality care is provided.
• support the patient admission process by helping with monitoring equipment deployments, educating patients about how to monitor their observations, symptoms and how to elevate or inform the team of changes.
• utilise systems and processes, including remote prescribing and the electronic patient record to coordinate care, complete treatment and effectively discharge back to community services.
• actively be involved in clinical governance, patient safety and quality audit.

The Trust is based in Reading, which sits on the river Thames, and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford and Southampton. With excelled leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live and work.

The CQC recently rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire Foundation Trusts as Good.

We have many opportunities for development and have been awarded University Status by the University of Reading.

For further details / informal visits contact:
Name:
Dr Andy Walden;

Job title:

Clinical Lead for Virtual Hospital Services;
Email address: andrew.;
Telephone number: