Although home IV antibiotic services are becoming available in many areas, this is still an underdeveloped area of health care. Jill Kayley argues that more patients could be treated at home if better systems were in place to support them

The provision of IV antibiotic therapy in the community in the UK is referred to as OHPAT – outpatient and home parenteral antibiotic therapy (Nathwani et al 1998). Although home IV antibiotic therapy is not a new concept, it is not routine practice and most infections requiring parenteral therapy are still treated in the hospital setting. Outpatient IV antibiotic therapy is more common and enables patients to go home but attend hospital on a daily or more frequent basis for treatment. Those infections requiring two or more weeks of IV antibiotic treatment are currently the most suitable for delivery in the community setting (Nathwani et al Conlon 1998), for example: