Click to view Emergency Department (A&E) waiting times
93 People
Number of people in A&E department
1:11 Hours
Average wait to be seen by a clinician
1:58 Hours
Average time in the department

Contact details

0118 322 5201

Address

Virtual Acute Care Unit (VACU)
Level 1 Maternity Block
Royal Berkshire Hospital
Craven Road
Berkshire RG1 5AN

Virtual Hospital Service

Hospital-level care, in the comfort of your home

What we do

Our Virtual Hospital Service offers safe, specialist care at home, helping you to:

  • Avoid hospital admissions

    Get the treatment you need at home, reducing time spent in hospital.

  • Recover faster

    Healing in your own environment often leads to quicker recovery and improved wellbeing.

  • Stay closely monitored

    We use state-of-the-art technology to monitor vital signs like oxygen levels, heart rate, and blood pressure.

  • Receive timely care

    Your healthcare team receives real-time updates and can respond promptly, either remotely or with a home visit.

How it works

Once you’re enrolled, we provide everything needed for safe treatment at home, including:

  • Monitoring devices

    Like blood pressure cuffs, thermometers, and pulse oximeters to track your health.

  • Regular check-ins

    Virtual or face-to-face appointments based on your condition and needs.

  • Support every step of the way

    Our team will work closely with you and your loved ones to make sure your recovery is smooth, safe, and well-supported.

Our Care Pathways

We offer a range of specialist virtual care options tailored to your health needs:

  • Respiratory Pathway: For conditions like pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, bronchiectasis, COVID-19 and COVID Medicines Delivery Unit (CMDU) treatments.

  • Cardiology Pathway: Supporting heart-related issues like heart failure, endocarditis and atrial fibrillation.

  • Renal Pathway: Tailored care for patients with kidney-related health concerns.

  • Complex Infection Pathway: For serious infections such as septic arthritis and complex urinary tract infections (UTIs).

  • General Medicine Pathway: Managing a wide range of health conditions that typically require hospital care.

  • POCUS (Point-of-Care Ultrasound): We use bedside ultrasound to support clinical decision-making, enabling quicker diagnosis and targeted treatment at home. This enhances patient safety and reduces the need for hospital-based investigations.

Our Vision

"To provide safe and efficient care to people at a place they call home."

We are committed to:

  • Working in partnership with patients and families.

  • Using advanced technology and point-of-care diagnostics.

  • Providing real alternatives to hospital admissions.

  • Supporting early transfers from hospital to continue acute care at home.

OPEN: 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week