August 13, 2026 - 114 views
An innovative approach to ward rounds at Abergele Hospital is helping orthopaedic patients receive timely reviews from their consultants while supporting them to return home safely and sooner.
The orthopaedic team at Abergele Hospital has been using Attend Anywhere technology for the past two years to carry out virtual ward rounds.
The system allows consultants to speak directly to patients and assess their recovery remotely, using a laptop or iPad on the ward.
It means patients can see and speak to their consultant on the morning after surgery, while an experienced senior nurse remains with them in person to carry out the clinical assessment.
The approach was introduced after orthopaedic consultants from Wrexham Maelor Hospital and Ysbyty Gwynedd began carrying out surgery at Abergele Hospital.
Because consultants may need to return to their main hospital for operating lists, clinics and other clinical commitments, the virtual ward round means patients can still receive a timely review from their surgeon without waiting for them to travel back to Abergele.
Ward Manager Claire Bowen says the approach has proved beneficial for both patients and staff.
She said: “Our patients really value being able to see and speak to their consultant the day after their operation. It gives them that reassurance that their surgeon has received how they are recovering and they have the opportunity to ask any questions they may have.
“From our perspective on the ward, it means we aren’t waiting for a consultant to travel a significant distance back to Abergele before a patient can be received.
“We can have a laptop or iPad with the patient, carry out the assessment together and make sure everything is in place for them to go home safely after they meet the discharge criteria.”
Claire says the system has now become an established part of the way the team works.
“We’ve been doing this for around two years now and it has become a really effective way of working. It’s good for our patients, it makes better use of our consultants’ time and it can also help prevent unnecessary delays to discharge.”
The team plans to continue using – and expand – the technology when orthopaedic services transfer to the new North Wales Surgical Centre at Llandudno Hospital.
The move is expected to provide opportunities to increase the number of procedures carried out as day cases, with virtual reviews potentially allowing patients to be assessed even after their consultant has returned to another hospital.
Claire said: “As we move to Llandudno, we want to increase the amount of surgery we are able to carry out as day cases, and this technology can really support us with that.
“Even when the Consultant has left the hospital to return to their other clinical commitments, we can continue to speak to them and review patients throughout the day and into the evening.”
That could give clinical teams more opportunities to discharge suitable patients on the same day rather than requiring them to stay in hospital overnight.
Claire says the focus remains on making sure patients are safe and ready to leave hospital.
“Ultimately, it’s about making the patient’s journey through hospital as smooth as possible while making sure they are completely safe and ready to go home.”
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Oliver Blocker, based at Ysbyty Gwynedd, says virtual ward rounds allow surgeons to balance patient reviews with their other clinical responsibilities.
He said: “Our virtual ward round allows surgeons to continue with other essential clinical duties, such as operating lists and clinics, while still maintaining regular oversight of patients on the ward.
“It is a much more efficient use of consultant time without compromising the quality or safety of patient care.”
He also highlighted the importance of having experienced nursing staff on the ward alongside the technology.
Mr Blocker said the success of the virtual ward round relies heavily on the expertise of the ward team, with senior nurses able to carry out the hands-on assessment while communicating directly with the consultant.
He said: “Having a highly experienced senior nurse such as Claire leading the patient assessments means we can be confident that every aspect of a patient’s condition has been received, all discharge criteria have been met and any issues have been identified before a patient goes home.”
The use of virtual ward rounds is another example of how technology is being used to connect specialist teams across North Wales, while reducing unnecessary journeys for clinicians and potentially helping suitable patients spend less time in hospital.
