Minister for Health highlights improved outcomes as a result of Virtual Care Initiatives
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 27 December 2025
- Last updated on: 27 December 2025
The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD has today highlighted the significant progress in the implementation and expansion of Virtual Care across Ireland, delivering enhanced patient outcomes and relieving pressure on hospital capacity.
Since the commencement of two pilot acute virtual wards at St. Vincent's University Hospital and in University Hospital Limerick, over 1,500 patients have been admitted, equating to more than 13,800 virtual bed days, freeing up vital hospital space.
Four new virtual wards have now opened in Our Lady of Lourdes Drogheda, Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, Mercy Hospital Cork, and St Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny, with plans to launch another acute virtual ward in Galway University Hospital in early 2026.
Virtual care is becoming an increasingly vital approach to the delivery of acute care at home to patients who would otherwise need to be hospitalised. Community virtual wards have also been established, which, along with a variety of Seedling Projects, are harnessing digital technology to deliver clinically led healthcare to patients across the country.
Minister Carroll MacNeill said:
"The implementation and expansion of virtual wards across Ireland is a wonderful success story that illustrates how technology can deliver effective, efficient and sustainable healthcare, leading to measurably better outcomes.
"These innovative models are not only improving patient outcomes and supporting recovery at home but also helping to alleviate pressure on our hospitals. I commend the dedication of healthcare professionals and local teams who are making this transformation possible and remain committed to ensuring that all regions benefit from such advancements in care."
Building on this success, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is expanding all types of virtual ward models nationwide. Letterkenny has been at the forefront of Virtual Care and was one of the first areas to adopt the virtual ward concept. Focusing initially on respiratory disease, the Letterkenny virtual ward has demonstrated remarkable results, including an 18% reduction in acute admissions to Letterkenny Hospital in 2025. Other initiatives include the Community Virtual Ward in Cherry Orchard, which primarily serves older adults who would otherwise require hospital care, allowing patients to receive high-quality care at home while protecting them from hospital-acquired infections.
The Chief Nursing Officer, Rachel Kenna noted:
"The rollout of virtual wards represents a significant step forward for patient-centred care in Ireland. By harnessing technology and innovation, we are empowering people to receive vital treatment at home while strengthening our health service for everyone."
Expanding the delivery of virtual care is central to the Department of Health’s mission to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Ireland. “Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024-2030” sets out a roadmap to digitally transform health services in Ireland and improve access for patients. Establishing and scaling virtual wards is part of wider efforts to revolutionise and modernise the health service, while ensuring high quality services and getting the best value from health system resources.
The paper on “Ireland’s Future Health and Social Care Workforce”, published by the Minister for Health on 23 December 2025, forms part of the long-term health workforce planning projections and the work underway for future workforce needs. It is essential that new and innovative solutions, such as digital health technologies, artificial intelligence, and virtual care, are maximised to enhance care delivery, optimise resources and overall health system performance.
Virtual wards are supporting the development of innovative models of care as envisaged under Sláintecare and equipping the right mix of healthcare professionals with the right skills, supported by digital technology is essential to ensuring a sustainable workforce of the future.
The Department of Health remains committed to expanding clinician-led and innovative virtual care initiatives to every region in Ireland, ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare. By embracing a variety of approaches, regions can tailor solutions to address their unique challenges, population demographics, and resource needs, ensuring that the right care is truly delivered in the right place, at the right time.