The IMPaCT North Palliative Care Virtual Ward has been recognised nationally after being shortlisted for two HSJ Awards.
Developed to support patients with a terminal illness and their families, IMPaCT brings together specialist nurses, doctors and therapists in a partnership between Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital, the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Mersey Care and Woodlands Hospice.
The IMPaCT North Palliative Care Virtual Ward was set up in September 2025 and provides enhanced, hospital-level care coordination and remote monitoring for patients with end-of-life care needs in their own homes or care settings, reducing avoidable hospital admissions.
Healthcare professionals from different organisations work together to make what can be a difficult time easier, by supporting patients with life-limiting illnesses across North Liverpool, South Sefton and Kirkby by managing their symptoms to give them a quality of life as long as they can do.
The team has been shortlisted for the ‘Palliative and End of Life Safety Initiative’ in the HSJ Patient Safety Awards, which shine a light on outstanding teams and individuals who are improving patient safety across health and care, as well as the ‘Clinical Pathway Redesign’ category in the national HSJ Awards, which have represented the highest standard of recognition in UK healthcare for nearly half a century.
Dr Laura Shaw, Consultant in Palliative Medicine at UHL Group, said: “The Palliative Care Virtual Ward is now up to ‘10 beds’ and we help to care for patients in their usual place of residence with unstable symptoms and provide 'step up' community care and 'step down' care when they transition home on discharge from hospitals or hospices.
“We help to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions for our patients and when they need to be admitted to hospital, we help to reduce their length of stay, or facilitate a transfer to a hospice if this is a more appropriate place of care for that patient.”
The IMPaCT team has received really positive comments from patients and families, and feedback suggests they feel well supported at home and feel that the team really care. With one person saying: “I don’t know what I would have done without the Virtual Ward, I would never have got all the support that I have had. It provided a safety net after a crisis.”
Dr Shaw added: “We are making a real difference in the care our patients receive. Most people who are at the end of life would prefer to be around their friends and family, and our team has supported around 70% of patients dying in their usual place of residence. We’ve only had one patient who chose to stay in hospital in their final days, but we can support people wherever they choose to be.”
The HSJ Patient Safety Awards will take place on 28 September 2026 and the national HSJ Awards will take place on 19 November 2026.