Karen Regan and Jacqueline Morgan outline how the introduction of a service to provide care traditionally offered in hospital has given patients the choice to receive treatment at home and extended the role of district nurses
At its inception in 2011 the @home community intravenous (IV) service used available staff resources to deliver IV antibiotics to patients in the community. The service model included two advanced nurse practitioners as clinical leads alongside the core district nursing services. Policies, guidelines and care bundles underpinned safe practice, and roles were developed and expanded to meet new challenges.
Limitations were identified and significant lessons learned. Service developments benefited patients by allowing them to receive treatment at home. Audit and review has improved service delivery and prevented complications that can hinder patients’ progress.
Collaborative working across care boundaries has allowed resources to be used more efficiently. Relationships with secondary care colleagues have been established, and growing confidence in the service is evident by the increasing number of referrals. Over three years, 4,375 bed days in secondary care were made available for more acutely ill patients.
Primary Health Care. 25, 7, 18-24. doi: 10.7748/phc.25.7.18.e972
Correspondence Peer reviewThis article has been subject to double-blind peer review and checked using antiplagiarism software
Conflict of interestNone declared
Author guidelinesjournals.rcni.com/r/phc-author-guidelines
Received: 29 April 2014
Accepted: 06 June 2014
or
Alternatively, you can purchase access to this article for the next seven days. Buy now
Are you a student? Our student subscription has content especially for you.
Find out more