Patients in Inverclyde and beyond are avoiding extended stays in hospital thanks to a new service at the IRH which allows the delivery of intravenous (IV) antibiotics through special day-clinics.
The Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) service means patients with skin conditions such as cellulitis or complicated urinary tract infections who would normally be admitted as inpatients are able to avoid an overnight stay and potentially up to a week in hospital.
The NHSGGC OPAT service has so far mainly focussed on supporting early discharge for patients with complicated infections who otherwise would require long hospital stays in any of the Health Board’s hospitals (including in IRH). The OPAT cellulitis service, which aims to prevent admission and optimise early return to normal life, was previously only available at the QEUH but has recently been rolled out to IRH in a move to provide an alternative to hospital admission and to deliver treatment and care closer to patients’ homes. Combined, avoided admissions and OPAT supported early discharge mean more than 300 beds are being freed up each week across NHSGGC.
The new IRH service is delivered by the ambulatory care team with support and training provided by the QEUH based team.
Suitable patients also avoid a trip to A&E, as they can be directly referred by their GP or by NHSGGC’s Flow Navigation Centre which is a virtual A&E service accessible through NHS24.
Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper layers of skin and the underlying tissue. It can be serious if not treated promptly with approximately 1600 patients admitted to hospital for up to one week in NHSGGC per year. The condition is far more common in summer months when warmer weather brings higher chances of being bitten by insects such as midges, which can cause the condition to flare up.
For patients such as Caroline McNaughton, 61, who has suffered acute bouts of cellulitis ever since mysteriously being bitten on holiday more than eight years ago, it has been a huge relief and means she has avoided lengthy waits in A&E during the pandemic.
Retired classroom assistant, Caroline, said: “Any other time I’ve had cellulitis I’ve had to come to A&E and wait in busy waiting rooms before being taken in for treatment. The first time I had to stay for a whole week to get my course of antibiotics.
“This time around, I got referred to the clinic and was on antibiotics within the hour. I’ve gone down every day since then for a scheduled appointment. It’s less stressful, more reassuring and you’re seen much faster.”
Dr Andrew Seaton leads the service across NHSGGC. Dr Seaton said:
“A number of bacterial infections including cellulitis and complicated urinary tract infections may require IV antibiotic treatment. Many patients are otherwise medically stable so finding a way to deliver care without having to come as an inpatient is hugely beneficial for a number of reasons. It frees up bed space in the hospital, avoids the potential negative impact of an extended hospital stay and allows patients to get on with their lives with minimal disruption.
“The ambulatory care team of nurses and doctors at IRH have been instrumental in successfully bringing this service to the local area. We look forward to growing the service in the coming months and considering other new and innovative ways of delivering traditional inpatient care in the community.”
ENDS
