Scotland’s Hospital at Home service to expand to 2,000 beds

Scotland’s Hospital at Home service will be expanded to 2,000 beds by December 2026, supported by a £85 million investment targeted at frontline NHS frailty services.

The virtual ward service predominantly provides care for frail, older people in their own homes and who may be suffering with acute illnesses and health conditions, including respiratory and cardiac conditions, infections, or treatment after a fall.

It is estimated to have saved the NHS in Scotland more than £50m in 2024-25, according to Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s annual report, which found the service prevented 15,470 people across the country going into hospital in 2024, delivering the highest number of interventions since the programme began.

Around £16.7m in healthcare costs are thought to have been avoided in 2024-25 because of the lower costs of the service compared to traditional hospital admissions.

Meanwhile, a decrease in healthcare needs of patients in the six months following discharge from Hospital at Home has saved a further £39.4m.

Speaking during a visit to Falkirk Community Hospital, John Swinney, first minister, said: “I am resolutely focused on taking the necessary action to reduce wait times and clear the blockages leading to delayed discharges across our NHS.

“This investment will ensure many patients can receive first class NHS care in the comfort of their own homes and not have to travel to a hospital where it isn’t required.

“Expanding Hospital at Home to 2,000 beds by December 2026 will create the largest ‘hospital’ in the country, thereby improving the flow of patients throughout the NHS and generating greater capacity for staff.”

“The NHS is Scotland’s greatest treasure but we know we must do better to ensure patients get the care they need, when and where they need it.

“The 2025-26 budget provides record funding of £21bn for health and social care services – with NHS boards across Scotland receiving an additional £2bn to deliver key front line services.”

The funding will also be used to support the introduction of frailty services in all of Scotland’s 30 A&E departments by the end of summer 2025, aiming to cut the average length of stay for vulnerable patients.

Dr Sarah Henderson, consultant geriatrician at NHS Forth Valley’s Hospital at Home Service, said: “Our local Hospital at Home team do an amazing job to help ensure that patients, who in the past would have to come into hospital, are able to remain in their own homes and access the specialist clinical care and support they require.

“Over the last four years the service has helped thousands of local patients and the feedback we have received from them and their families has been overwhelmingly positive as they really appreciate everything the team does to help them stay out of hospital and in familiar surroundings at home, close to their family, friends and pets.”

Commenting on the programme’s expansion, Robert Rea, head of innovation at InnoScot Health, said: “Thanks to personalised, remote, real-time technology, the Hospital at Home service provides high-quality, patient-centred care for frail people living in their own homes, avoids unnecessary hospital stays, and frees up capacity.