The Virtual Ward – supporting Aortic Dissection patients at home | Dr Tara Mastracci

How can we provide better support for Aortic Dissection patients after they leave hospital? Dr Tara Mastracci, Consultant Vascular Surgeon at Barts Heart Centre, explores how remote monitoring is being used to support patients at home following Aortic Dissection. Tara introduces the Barts Virtual Ward, where patients can share regular blood pressure readings with their clinical team, and discusses what the programme has taught them about blood pressure control, communication and long-term follow-up. She also considers some of the wider challenges of digital healthcare — including digital exclusion, health inequalities and the importance of keeping human contact at the heart of technology-enabled care. Recorded at the Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland Annual Patient Event 2026, held in Birmingham on 18 September 2026. Find more talks, patient stories and information at: aorticdissectionawareness.org