Service expansion will keep more children at home with their families while providing hospital-level care. Find out more about the benefits

Services to keep children out of hospital, known as hospital at home or virtual wards, are set for a major expansion across the NHS after a string of successful pilot schemes. Already providing the largest hospital at home service of its kind in the world, the NHS expansion aims to increase the number of children and young people receiving this treatment. NHS England reported in July 2023 that more than 6,400 children had been treated during a preceding year-long pilot phase, compared to more than 160,000 adults.