Public perception and views on virtual wards in Scotland
Background
The Citizens’ Panel for health and social care captures the views of a cross-section of the Scottish public informing decisions about health and social care policy and services.
Panel membership is set to support statistically robust analysis at a Scotland level. There were 1,107 active members across all 32 local authority areas at the time of the present survey. Membership is regularly refreshed (most recently in spring 2025) to ensure the Panel is representative of the wider population, and to boost under-represented locations or population groups. A profile of the Panel members is appended to this report.
Pulse survey
This report presents findings from the autumn 2025 Pulse survey, conducted between October and November 2025. The Pulse survey approach is a shorter survey than full Panel surveys, designed for quicker feedback of results. They are focused on one topic only, on this occasion the public perceptions around virtual wards.
The purpose of the survey was to gather public opinion to feed into SHTG recommendations on ‘virtual ward platform technologies to support transition of patients to the home setting or to avoid hospital admission’.
The survey was sent electronically to 963 Citizens’ Panel members, and a total of 377 survey responses were received, equivalent to a response rate of 39%. This is sufficient to support robust analysis with overall results accurate to ± 5.05%. Key findings are summarised over the following pages. The body of this report sets out findings in more detail, and a profile of survey responses is appended.
Key findings
Understanding of virtual wards:
82% of respondents felt confident they understood what a virtual ward is.
Comfort with home monitoring:
65% would feel comfortable having a health condition monitored at home via a virtual ward rather than staying in hospital.
Confidence in using technology:
78% would feel confident using technology at home if training and support were provided.
Perceived benefits:
- reduced pressure on hospital services (61%)
- lower risk of hospital-acquired infections (46%)
- comfort in familiar surroundings (37%)
Main concerns:
- delays in receiving help if health deteriorates (70%)
- reduced face-to-face contact with healthcare professionals (67%)
- increased pressure on carers or family members (47%)
What would help:
- confidence that urgent help will be available quickly (73%)
- regular contact with healthcare professionals (66%)
- clear guidance on emergency contacts (47%)
Preference for care setting:
44% would prefer monitoring at home via a virtual ward, 25% would prefer hospital care, and 31% were unsure.
This divide in preferences is better explained once the open question, asking respondents to explain their answer, is reviewed. It indicates that public acceptance depends heavily on the condition involved, the reliability of support available, and clarity of clinical oversight. A summary of the open question is given below:
- Preferences for virtual ward or hospital care were shaped largely by comfort, safety and confidence in support available. Those favouring virtual wards valued comfort, convenience and maintaining independence at home, though many said this depended on receiving hospital‑equivalent clinical oversight.
- Those preferring hospital care prioritised safety, immediate access to staff, and reassurance from in‑person monitoring, with some expressing low confidence in self‑management or digital technology.
- Respondents who were unsure said their choice would depend on the condition being treated, alongside uncertainty about the level and reliability of support available through virtual wards.
Recommendations
Based on these findings Healthcare Improvement Scotland makes the following recommendations to the Scottish Health Technologies Group:
- Strengthen patient safety assurances and communication
- Guarantee regular and proactive clinical contact
- Ensure technology is simple, accessible, and supported
- Minimise burden on carers and family
- Tailor information to individual conditions and needs
- Address equity and local variation
- Continue involving the public in service design
The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) has been asked to produce a
recommendation on virtual wards, which will help the Scottish Government decide whether
to support this type of care. The recommendations and conclusions from the SHTG evidence
review can be found here: