11th March 2025
An estimated 11,435 days which people may have otherwise spent in Southern Trust hospitals have been avoided over the past four years thanks to a service which is managing antibiotic treatments at home.
The Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Service (OPAT) is a team of microbiologists, pharmacists and nurses who look after patients being discharged with ongoing antibiotics, for example with abscesses or infections. They work closely with district nursing colleagues preventing hospital admissions, supporting earlier discharge and enhancing overall patient experience.
Treatment can last between one day to a few weeks. More mobile patients attend their local district nursing hub for antibiotics while the team will go to those who are housebound in their own homes. Around 7.8 acute hospital beds are saved each day for sicker patients, by organising treatment in this way.
Dr Sara Hedderwick, Consultant Microbiology Lead explains: “Most patients with infections only need antibiotics for a few days. Some with more complicated illness, will need antibiotics through the vein, for a longer time, which could traditionally only be done in hospital. Given the chance, patients want to avoid hospital, so we are delighted to now offer more patients antibiotic treatments in the comfort of their own home. This allows them to be discharged from hospital quicker and get better in their own personal surroundings. It also helps to free up precious hospital beds for sicker patients who need them more.
“Ward staff refer patients to IV nurse co-ordinators who screen suitability for the service. A pharmacist or doctor reviews the patient and together with the microbiology consultant, we determine the best course of treatment.
“In many cases we can avoid intravenous treatment by finding an alternative oral antibiotic, which frees up busy district nursing colleagues and is much less invasive, lower risk and more convenient for the patient. If an intravenous option is needed, the IV co-ordinator will insert a suitable line into the vein. The IV co-ordinators are also the link for the district nurses who continue with administering the patient’s treatment at home or in the outpatient clinic and are on hand if any problems emerge.”
Dr Hedderwick continues: “The service is really improving patient outcomes. Patients now need an average of five days less on antibiotic therapy, readmission rates have reduced by over 50% and the risk of healthcare acquired infections is minimised by the shorter time on antibiotics.”
From 2020 to 2024, 1,594 patients have used the service and feedback has been very positive.
85 year old Ida Halfpenny from Lurgan has been prescribed a long term antibiotic for an infection following surgery. Rather than a prolonged hospital stay to complete the six week course, Ida was relieved to be able to return home to her daughter to continue treatment. Ida says: “I had already been in hospital long enough and was treated so well by the whole team. I didn’t realise that this treatment could be organised out of the hospital so was very pleased to come home and see my grandchildren again. We are so lucky to have this home antibiotics team who are giving me excellent care. Your health really is your wealth.”
Ida’s daughter Patricia adds: “I work in the hospital so am well aware of the pressures on services and demands on beds. However as a daughter, I really welcomed a reduced hospital stay for my mother. Being at home with family is much better for her mental health and overall rehabilitation. The continuity of care has been brilliant from the OPATs and District Nursing Team, they have built up a great relationship with us and are looking after mum so well.”
Busy 30 year old mum of three Seainin McGee from Pomeroy was delighted to avail of the OPATs service last year. Seainin, who is a nurse in a GP surgery endured a number of hospital readmissions with recurring infections following surgery. She explains: “When oral antibiotics couldn’t get the infection under control, I was reviewed by the OPAT microbiologist, pharmacist and nurse at the bedside in Craigavon Hospital. They prescribed daily intravenous antibiotics which would be needed for up to six weeks. The prospect of a lengthy hospital stay or daily visits to the clinic for antibiotics was unimaginable so it was absolutely fantastic when the IV nurse co-ordinator inserted the PIC line right away, arranged the treatment immediately and I was able to go home all on the same day that the decision was made.
“As I live in the Northern Trust area, the OPATs team worked with their hospital diversion service who visited me daily to administer the antibiotics. It was brilliant to be able to go home to family life again and return to normality.”
