More than 100 patients have been able to recover at home following surgery at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) thanks to a specialist surgical virtual ward.

The service at the Royal Stoke University Hospital allows patients to return home on the same day or the day after major robotic colorectal surgery while continuing to receive monitoring and support from hospital and community teams.

UHNM explained that patients remain under the care of clinical teams while at home to give them reassurance while they recover in familiar surroundings.

Mr Philip Varghese, consultant colorectal surgeon and UHNM clinical lead for robotics, said: "We saw that our robotic surgery patients were recovering well on the ward and started asking whether they actually needed to stay in hospital and whether we could give them the same support in the community.

"What we have shown is that patients can have major surgery, go home and be in the comfort of their own home with their family while still having the medical and nursing support they would receive in hospital.

"This was never about whether UHNM needed the bed, it was about asking whether our patients needed to stay on the ward and what we have seen is that patients can do extremely well at home.

"The success of the colorectal virtual ward is down to the hard work and collaboration between the Surgical ACPs, ward managers and nursing staff, the enhanced recovery team and pharmacy."

Karen Bentley, 65, became the 100th patient to benefit from the service after undergoing robotic colorectal surgery at Royal Stoke.

The social worker from Blurton returned home the following day where she continued her recovery with support from her husband, three daughters and UHNM's virtual ward teams.

Karen said: "I was a little bit apprehensive to begin with, but I've got a good support network, my husband was great and I've got three daughters who were super.

"I got home the next day and all the medication was ready, it was like a lightbulb moment. It was completely different and the recovery has continued and it's been brilliant.

"The nurses were great, I've been on speed dial so there was always somebody there, it was amazing."

Before their operation patients are told what to expect, and teams work to get them up and moving after surgery and make sure their medication is ready.

Once home, patients are regularly monitored by clinical teams, are visited at home by the virtual ward service and can contact the hospital directly if they are worried or need to be seen again.

92-year-old Francess Walton from Stafford is another patient that has benefited from the virtual ward.

Francess returned home the day after her operation and where she received support from the virtual ward as well as her daughter Sian who stayed with her.

Sian said: "When Mum was a bit confused at the hospital and we got her home, all of that confusion was gone. She was much more settled and much less anxious.

"The virtual team and community nurses phoned so there was always somebody at the end of the phone if I needed them, we didn't feel that we were alone at all.

"The follow-up was fantastic, you can't fault it, it's just a great idea."

Francess added: "I've been very good, the staff here are marvellous, there's always a smile and a hand and they say hello and they're really all nice."