New Scheme to Treat People in Their Own Homes
Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust has launched a new scheme
to treat people with skin infections in their own homes, reducing
unnecessary hospital stays.
In the past, people with cellulitis (an infection of
the deeper layers of the skin and the underlying tissue) would have
to come to hospital to receive intravenous (IV) antibiotics.
They would stay in hospital for several days, until the infection
was successfully treated.
Under the new scheme, cellulitis patients will now be given an
initial dose of antibiotics in hospital, and will then be
transferred home once it is clinically appropriate – generally on
the same day or the following day Patients will receive a
visit each day from a community nurse will who will administer the
antibiotics and monitor their recovery.
The scheme has been launched following a successful pilot last
year, which gained positive feedback and benefitted people like
Lesley Adams, 48, from Bellingham, who said:
“It made a big difference not having to stay at hospital.
It meant that I could spend more time with my family, and carry on
as normal. At the same time, I knew the support was there if
I needed it. It’s good that more people are going to benefit
from this scheme to treat people at home.”
Dr Elizabeth Aitken, Director of the Acute and Elderly Service,
commented on the scheme:
“This is about looking at what is best for those who use our
services. As well as giving people the best care clinically,
treating more people in their own homes promotes independence and
wellbeing. The pilot last year went very well, and we are
looking forward to treating more people like Lesley.”
The provision of administering IV antibiotics at home is soon to
be extended to patients with bone and joint infections, who often
need to stay in hospital for 2-6 weeks for treatment.