Blackpool mum praises ‘virtual ward’ that has cared for over 1,000 peadiatric patients

A Blackpool mum has praised the care her son has received at home thanks to a paediatric  ‘virtual ward’ run by nurses from Blackpool Teaching Hospitals.

Stephanie Barber’s son Mason has required regular hospital admissions since birth, with stays ranging from a couple of days to several weeks depending on his treatment needs. Stephanie says these admissions have placed strain on the family and were particularly challenging for Mason who never settles or feels comfortable on the ward.

Thanks to a virtual ward, Mason was able to stay at home while safely continuing to receive the help and support he needs from his medical team, without needing to be admitted to hospital.

Stephanie commented: “When we were first offered the peadiatric virtual ward we were wary and unsure – what if he becomes more unwell because the doctors and nurses aren’t always here or will we get forgotten about because we are at home and not on the ward. But this was far from the case.”

During Mason’s time on the paediatric virtual ward, nurses visited daily to provide the same care he would have received in hospital.

Stephanie added: “We’ve just spent five days on the virtual ward – that’s five days we would otherwise have been in hospital. I’ve noticed a huge difference in Mason. He is calmer, happier and much more comfortable receiving his treatment at home. He’s also happier to let staff carry out his care and give him his medication.

 “For the rest of the family we are able to continue with day-to-day family life. Keeping things as normal as possible for the other children and ensuring their routines had minimal disruption.”

Deborah Peddie, Team Leader for the paediatric virtual ward at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals commented: “Families often worry that home means less support, but our virtual ward offers hospital‑level care within the comfort of familiar surroundings. For children, being at home can reduce stress and help recovery as seen with Mason and for parents, it eases the strain of balancing care for siblings, work, and travel.”

Since its launch, the paediatric virtual ward has supported over 1,000 patients and their families, helping children remain safely at home while reducing avoidable hospital admissions and freeing up bed capacity for those who need it most.

Stephanie and her family would encourage other parents of poorly children – whether for long‑term treatment or as a one‑off – to speak to their medical team about whether a virtual ward could be suitable.

She added: “I would recommend a virtual ward to anyone and it is something we would go on again should it be suitable. Even outside the daily nurses visits we had a phone number we could just call if something didn’t feel right or if we were unsure. When you go home on a virtual ward you aren’t going home alone.”

The virtual ward offer at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals continues to grow, providing families with more choice, flexibility and personalised care. The Trust also offers a range of virtual wards for adult patients, supporting earlier discharge from hospital or helping to avoid admission altogether.