{
  "abstract": "Background There is growing interest in shifting care from hospital to the community (‘Hospital-at-home’). Innovative UK providers have launched ‘Palliative Virtual Wards’ (PVW) to provide higher-intensity input at home for patients with unstable palliative symptoms (May-Miller, Swann. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2025 Apr 29:spcare-2025-005482). Pioneers face common challenges and a Community of Practice (CoP) is a useful learning model for practitioners in a common domain to share knowledge and experience, problem solve and share resources (Wenger-Trayner, Wenger-Trayner. An introduction to communities of practice: a brief overview of the concept and its uses. 2015 June [internet]).Aim To create a Palliative Virtual Ward Community of Practice to facilitate collaboration and sharing of best practice.Methods A 2024 UK-wide survey of palliative care in virtual wards received 86 responses including 22 from PVWs (May-Miller, Swann. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2025 Apr 29:spcare-2025-005482). 62 respondents (72%) were interested in joining a learning community. PVW providers were invited to share their experience at the first online PVW CoP in January 2025. The invitation was shared widely through a variety of networks.Results 291 people registered for the launch event, 201 people attended and the recording on FutureNHS has been viewed 178 times. Attendees reported that it was relevant (93%), enjoyable (94%), increased their knowledge (96%) and met their personal objectives for attending (93%). They gave suggestions for future topics, guided the frequency of meetings and were asked if they wanted more frequent interactions via a different medium (e.g. WhatsApp). The programme for the second CoP has been created based on feedback. More than 270 people have registered.Although newly formed, this community provides mutual support for those running a PVW and helps those who are considering launching one. The network has also facilitated research collaborations and has sparked conversations with NHS England about palliative virtual wards.Conclusions PVW are growing in number. The CoP is enabling shared learning and directing research priorities, which is vital for the development of this area.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, Croydon, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Hannah Lucy May-Miller"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Katherine Sanderson"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P-138 Palliative virtual wards: developing a community of practice for learning and collaboration",
  "uid": "5bca9f99-726f-5bd9-b616-e54d318a47d0"
}