Barnet NHS Pilot: 2,500 Get 24/7 Virtual Home Care

Key Points

• Thousands of patients with chronic conditions in Barnet will gain access to 24/7 virtual care through the Barnet Enhanced Virtual Care pilot, a first for the NHS.
• The scheme targets patients at high risk of emergency admission, covering chronic liver disease, coronary heart disease, Parkinson’s, dementia, osteoporosis, and 13 additional conditions.
• Eligible patients are those admitted as emergencies in the past year with one or more of these conditions; they will be invited to join the study.
• Participants receive support from a specialist virtual care team including consultants, nurses, pharmacists, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Free, easy-to-use technology such as apps and remote patient monitoring devices will help clinicians detect early signs of unwellness, enabling home-based care.
• Each patient is paired with a health coach for personalised support, focusing on the individual, not just the condition.
• Personalised care plans will fit around daily routines and personal goals, with assistance for medication management.
• The service is managed by a team at Barnet Hospital, with day-to-day care provided by Doccla, a virtual healthcare provider.
• The pilot launched this week and runs until April 2027, involving 2,500 patients from Barnet.
• Doccla holds day-to-day clinical responsibility; Royal Free London (RFL) retains system-level clinical governance as the accountable NHS provider.
• Patients remain registered with their usual GP.
• The North Central London Integrated Care Board (ICB) will collaborate with other NHS providers to explore wider implementation.
• Estimates suggest up to 30% reduction in emergency admissions and non-emergency attendances for participants.
• Denis Enright, Royal Free London’s director of neighbourhood health, emphasised combining technology, wrap-around care, and patient engagement to reduce hospital admissions.

Barnet, North London (North London News) January 29, 2026 – Thousands of patients with chronic conditions will have access to 24/7 virtual care as part of a transformative new scheme aimed at significantly reducing the number of people needing hospital care. In a first for the NHS, the Barnet Enhanced Virtual Care pilot will focus on patients at high risk of emergency admission, including those with chronic liver disease, coronary heart disease, Parkinson’s, dementia, osteoporosis, plus a further 13 conditions, and provide them with at-home care and monitoring to help them avoid needing a stay in hospital. The initial pilot, which launched this week and is due to run until April 2027, will involve 2,500 patients from Barnet.

What Makes This Pilot a First for the NHS?

The Barnet Enhanced Virtual Care pilot marks a pioneering step for the National Health Service by delivering round-the-clock virtual support directly to patients’ homes. Patients who have one or more of the specified conditions and who have been admitted as an emergency in the past year will be invited to join the study. They will have access to a specialist virtual care team comprising consultants, nurses, pharmacists and more, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In addition, they will be provided with free, easy-to-use technology, such as apps and other remote patient monitoring devices, that will allow clinicians to spot early signs of being unwell so they can continue to be kept healthy at home. This technology aims to empower patients to manage their health proactively, preventing escalations that lead to hospital visits. The scheme’s design reflects a shift towards preventive, community-based care amid ongoing NHS pressures.

Who Qualifies for the Virtual Care Scheme?

Eligibility centres on patients managing multiple chronic conditions who face elevated risks of hospitalisation. The pilot specifically targets individuals with chronic liver disease, coronary heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, osteoporosis, and an additional 13 conditions not detailed in the initial announcement but encompassed within the high-risk cohort. Crucially, participants must have experienced at least one emergency admission in the preceding 12 months.

Once enrolled, patients will also be paired with a health coach who gets to know them so they can support the person, not just the condition. A personalised care plan designed to fit around their daily routine and personal goals will be developed for each patient, alongside help managing their medication. This holistic approach ensures care aligns with individual lifestyles, fostering long-term adherence and wellbeing.

How Will Day-to-Day Care Be Delivered?

The service will be managed by a team at Barnet Hospital, with the day-to-day care of the patients provided by Doccla, a virtual healthcare provider. Doccla will hold day-to-day clinical responsibility for patients, while the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (RFL) will retain system-level clinical governance as the accountable NHS provider. Patients will remain registered with their usual GP, ensuring continuity within existing primary care structures.

The North Central London ICB will work alongside other NHS providers across North Central London to understand how this approach could be implemented more widely. This collaborative framework positions the pilot as a potential blueprint for scaling virtual care innovations. By integrating private sector expertise like Doccla with NHS oversight, the scheme balances efficiency with public accountability.

What Technology and Support Will Patients Receive?

Central to the pilot is the provision of free, user-friendly digital tools tailored for at-home monitoring. These include apps and remote patient monitoring devices that transmit vital data to clinicians, enabling early intervention before conditions worsen. Such technology has shown promise in similar trials, though this represents an unprecedented scale for Barnet’s patient population.

Health coaches play a pivotal role, building personal relationships to address not only medical needs but also lifestyle factors. Personalised care plans incorporate patients’ daily routines and goals, extending to practical support like medication management. This comprehensive “wrap-around” model aims to sustain independence, reducing reliance on acute services.

What Results Are Expected from the Pilot?

It has been estimated that there could be a reduction of up to 30% in emergency admissions among the cohort taking part, as well as reducing non-emergency attendance. These projections underscore the pilot’s potential to alleviate hospital burdens, particularly for chronic disease management. Early detection via monitoring devices is expected to drive these outcomes by nipping deteriorations in the bud.

Denis Enright, Royal Free London’s director of neighbourhood health, said:

“It is about combining technology, wrap-around-care and engaging patients in their own health right from the start. By giving people the tools they need to stay well and independent at home we hope to reduce the need for admittance to hospital.”

His comments, drawn from the official announcement, highlight the scheme’s patient-centred ethos.

Who Is Overseeing the Pilot’s Implementation?

Management falls to a dedicated team at Barnet Hospital, leveraging local infrastructure for coordination. Doccla, as the frontline virtual care provider, assumes operational clinical duties, ensuring seamless daily support. RFL’s governance role safeguards standards, with patients’ GP registrations unchanged to maintain familiar care pathways.

The North Central London ICB’s involvement signals ambitions for regional expansion, evaluating the model’s viability across diverse settings. This multi-stakeholder setup – NHS, private provider, and integrated care board – exemplifies integrated care systems in action. Launched this week, the pilot’s 15-month timeline to April 2027 allows for rigorous data collection and refinement.

Why Focus on Chronic Conditions in Barnet?

Barnet’s selection stems from its high prevalence of chronic illnesses and emergency admissions, making it an ideal testing ground. Conditions like chronic liver disease and coronary heart disease often lead to acute crises, straining resources. By targeting 2,500 patients, the pilot addresses a substantial local cohort, potentially yielding scalable insights.

The emphasis on 16 named conditions plus 13 others reflects evidence-based prioritisation of high-impact areas. Parkinson’s and dementia patients, for instance, benefit from monitoring that detects subtle changes invisible to lay observers. Osteoporosis management prevents falls, a common admission trigger. This focused scope maximises the scheme’s preventive punch.

How Does This Fit into Broader NHS Goals?

The pilot aligns with NHS Long Term Plan objectives to shift care from hospitals to communities, curbing admissions amid rising demand. Virtual wards and remote monitoring have proliferated post-pandemic, but 24/7 specialist access elevates this initiative. North Central London’s ICB collaboration could accelerate adoption, informing national policy.

Estimates of 30% admission reductions promise fiscal and clinical efficiencies, freeing beds for complex cases. Patient independence gains could also boost quality of life metrics. As Denis Enright noted, empowering individuals with tools and engagement is key to sustainability.

What Challenges Might the Pilot Face?

While ambitious, scaling technology access and digital literacy among elderly chronic patients poses hurdles. Ensuring equitable uptake across Barnet’s diverse demographics will be critical. Doccla’s clinical responsibility demands robust protocols to match hospital-level oversight.

Data privacy under GDPR, integration with GP systems, and measuring long-term outcomes require meticulous handling. The 2,500-patient scale tests logistics, with success hinging on team coordination. Nonetheless, the pilot’s structured governance mitigates risks.

When and How Long Will the Pilot Run?

The Barnet Enhanced Virtual Care pilot launched this week, on or around 29 January 2026, with a duration extending to April 2027. This 15-month window facilitates comprehensive evaluation, including admission metrics and patient feedback. Initial invitations target recent emergency admits, prioritising high-need cases.

Interim reviews could adjust parameters, with final reports shaping rollouts. The timeline balances urgency with evidence-gathering, positioning Barnet as a vanguard for NHS innovation.

This scheme represents a bold stride towards home-centric care, potentially transforming chronic disease management in Barnet and beyond. By weaving technology, expertise, and personalisation, it addresses core NHS challenges head-on, with outcomes eagerly anticipated.