Patients in the virtual ward take their own oxygen saturation measurements, or a family member or carer can do it for them. They record their readings in a diary and are monitored remotely by their general practice or community nursing team.
Patients are monitored for severe symptoms, for the onset of silent hypoxia, and to look for rapid deterioration. This ensures that patients are safeguarded--just as they would be in a hospital bed, but being at home.
NHS England has bought up several hundred thousand pulse oximeters for distribution around the country to ensure that COVID care @home projects are properly supported.