Article topics: Antibiotic therapy, Community services, Intravenous Therapy, Nurse-led services, Referral
With an ageing population and an evolving NHS, many services traditionally provided in the hospital setting are moving to the community. This article examines the development of a community nurse-led intravenous (IV) therapy service. The author explains the background to IV therapy, particularly in the field of antibiotic provision, the development of the nurse-led service and how the service transformed the experiences of patients, allowing them to access care closer to home and avoid unnecessary hospital visits. The author also provides a case study, which details the benefits of the nurse-led IV therapy service for an individual patient.