QA Hospital patient returns home four weeks early due to new service

A patient at Queen Alexandra Hospital has gone home four weeks earlier than expected after benefitting from a new service.

Pete Smith became the first patient to use the new Outpatient Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) at the Cosham hospital which allows suitable patients to continue intravenous antibiotic treatment safely at home. Having already spent time being treated in hospital for a blood infection, Pete called the new service “such a good system”.

It has meant he ahs been able to continue his treatment at home with his medication carried in a small lightweight bag allowing him to go back to his normal routine.

He said: “Having this means I’m not stuck at home or in hospital. It’s such a good system. If we want to go out for the day, for example, we can just go, and it means my hospital bed is freed up for someone else who needs it.”

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Pete’s wife Sue was trained by the pharmacy team at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust to support him with his medication and help care for the line used to deliver his treatment safely. While she was initially nervous about it, she found the training easy to follow and was able to practise with support from the team while Pete was still in hospital.

Being home has made a big difference to Pete and Sue.

She said: “Having someone in hospital is difficult for them and for those around them, but by doing this Pete can come home sooner, and it will be lovely to get back to some normality.”

Daphine Nassolo, Pharmacist at QA Hospital, helped to train Sue and as part of the OPAT team will be following up with patients, conducting regular reviews, and making sure the infection is responding to treatment as expected.

Daphine said: “A big part of the service is helping patients get back to their normal day-to-day activities sooner, while having more participation in their health. I’m excited that we have had our first patient under this new service and I look forward to being able to support more patients in getting home sooner.”