A new elastomeric pump pathway has been launched for patients across East and North Hertfordshire who are part of the Hospital at Home programme.
The new pathway is suitable for certain patients on short-term and long-term antibiotics, as well as for patients with heart failure, and will aim to ease winter pressure on acute services by supporting patients to be discharged earlier – or potentially avoid hospital admission altogether.
For those on antibiotics, the elastomeric device allows nurses to administer antibiotics through just one visit a day – cutting the amount of nursing visits by half.
A whole dose can be administered over 24-hours, and the device can be carried by the patient in a bag worn on their body. For patients with heart failure,
Once a patient has been correctly identified for this pathway by their clinician, a nurse will visit their home and set the patient up with their elastomeric pump and ensure it is functioning correctly – and return every 24 hours while they are receiving the antibiotics.
Triage nurse and Virtual Ward manager Marianna Felli said:
“We see the elastomeric pump as another tool in our belt to keep people out of hospital, and help people recover in the comfort of their own home – especially for those on long-term antibiotics. It will save 50% of visits from nursing staff and we hope it will help ease pressures elsewhere.”
Dr Raelene Groom, Associate Specialist Acute Medicine at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, said:
“We have seen first-hand the benefits of receiving care in the comfort of a patient’s own home through innovative new care services such as Hospital at Home.
“The new device is an exciting addition to the remote hospital-level care options available to our patients.
“This new service will ensure more of our patients benefit from the Hospital at Home programme, receiving the treatment they need whilst also ensuring our staff can administer drugs and keep track of patients’ wellbeing whilst they remain at home.
“More and more patients are becoming eligible for the Hospital at Home service and I would encourage those interested in requesting a referral to the service to speak to their GP.”
