Raigmore Hospital in Inverness opens new Outpatient Antibiotic Therapy space, NHS Highland announces
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A NEW, dedicated medical space for Outpatient Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) services has opened at Raigmore Hospital.
NHS Highland said that the new space will allow for patients to be seen directly from the community, assessments to be carried out, and a decision made on treatment plans without any interruption or delays.
It added that the facility will make care more efficient because patients that have been in wards can be discharged and checked up on in the new clinic.
Andrew Wilson, OPAT specialist nurse practitioner, said: “Previously patients who required treatment were seen in an undedicated, shared area, meaning we had to work around the availability of other services, which was not always time efficient.
"The opening of this new, dedicated area allows for a more coordinated and streamlined process. We can see patients quicker and get them home sooner.”
Finding a dedicated area for the OPAT service has been the team’s ambition for a number of years. The process began earlier this year after NHS Highland estates engineer Colin McEwen encouraged the OPAT team to apply for funding after he experienced using the service himself last year. He said he realised the benefits that OPAT deliver for NHS Highland.
Colin said: “I had an infection in my hand and was referred to OPAT, who saw me two or three times a week over the following few months, regularly arranging short notice access to MRI and a variety of specialist consultants – all of which was very impressive and de demonstrated a unique and caring service, that not only reduced the pressures on in-patient beds, but was clearly very patient wellbeing focused.”
After his experiences with OPAT, Colin spoke with Eric Green, head of estates and capital planning, who encouraged Andrew Wilson and Fiona Elder, clinical nurse specialist, to seek funding for the space that he had suggested as a location.
The clinic opens just in time for Andrew and Fiona to retire.
Colin said: "I hope Andrew and Fiona, the two principal characters in this development, are happy in the knowledge that their OPAT legacy has a permanent home!”
