OPAT and IV Therapy National Networking Forum

Katie is the lead OPAT specialist nurse for YST, qualified for 37 years with a wealth of experience across the board from surgery, gynaecology, sexual health, neonates and nurse led services in an outpatient setting. Latterly she was Matron in Surgery, Ambulatory care and Elderly services for 14 years before semi-retiring and returning to set up OPAT (Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy) services in 2019 across York and Scarborough Hospitals. Katie leads the OPAT with its ethos that is passionate about positive patient experience and an equitable service where everyone that could have OPAT should have OPAT.

Kate has over 28 years of registered nursing experience with 22 years in the community setting. Eleven years ago, Kate developed the Community Intravenous Team for Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust.  The community IV team encompasses the following work streams:  the OPAT Service – delivering IV antibiotics in the community for a range of conditions,  the Community Cancer Service caring patients with medium to long term central venous catheters and disconnecting cytotoxic infusers; administration of IV iron to correct pre-operative iron deficiency anaemia and administration of IV furosemide for patients with decompensating heart failure.  The team is growing treat more patients requiring artificial hydration in the community setting.

In 2014, gained the title of Queen’s Nurse for bringing care traditionally given in hospital out into the community and worked as part of the Trust multidisciplinary team in achieving the Health Service Journal Patient Safety Perioperative and Surgical Care Award 2020. 

On completion of her BSc Adult Nursing in 2017, Aimee worked as a newly qualified nurse on a cardiac surgery ward.  She enjoyed this role and continued to establish her skills and knowledge in post operative care for three years. Aimee was keen to broaden her knowledge on other specialities and did so through joining the staff bank.  She was fortunate to bank for the OPAT team, which led to her current full-time post as an OPAT Specialist Nurse. Aimee has now worked in this post for two years.  She looks forward to continuing her professional development, through enrolling onto the non-medical prescribing course.

Chanelle is an OPAT Specialist Nurse and has been working within OPAT for 5 years.  Chanelle has enjoyed playing a part in the development of the OPAT service over the years. Their main achievement as a team, is holding one of the highest percentages of patients self-administering in the country. Chanelle and her team have also worked to become an increasingly nurse led service. Chanelle was able to complete the non-medical prescribing module to facilitate this and continue her own professional development.

Rachel Kenion is an Advanced Clinical Practitioner within the OPAT team at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT). Having been a registered nurse for 19 years Rachel has a wealth of experience to bring to the team at SWFT. Rachel has used her advanced skills to provide clinical care to patients, leadership to the nursing team, and to develop and expand the service to meet the changing needs of the NHS. Special interests include vascular access and antimicrobial delivery.

Julie Statham is the OPAT team manager at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust. She is a pharmacist by background and is an independent prescriber and Advanced Clinical Practitioner and uses these advanced skills within the OPAT service.

She was project manager whilst OPAT at SWFT was introduced in 2015 and has been managing the service since. Julie has special interests in empowering patients through self-administration and ensuring patient safety throughout infection treatment as well as ensuring good stewardship. She has research interests in how the multi-disciplinary team can be utilised to deliver robust OPAT services in the current NHS climate.