Progressing your OPAT and IV Therapy Service

Carolyn Hemsley is the infection lead for Guy's Hospital and works with Synnovis infection science laboratories.

She joined Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust as a consultant in infectious diseases and microbiology in 2007. She was clinical and service lead for microbiology and infection from 2014 to 2021, including a leadership role in supporting the infection science laboratories and specifically the microbiology laboratory service. 

Carolyn set up, and leads, the outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy service (OPAT). This supports people in the community who are receiving intravenous antimicrobials. She runs an OPAT and general and bone infection clinic at Guy's Hospital. The infection clinic has a focus on long-term infections such as bone and joint infections, deep-seated and organ space collections and fungal infections.

She supports the Cancer Centre at Guy's, managing infection in cancer patients. Carolyn also has an interest in the management of infection in non-HIV patients who have a weakened immune system.

Trained in New Zealand, graduating in 1983. Working in general surgical and orthopaedic wards before beginning a career in operating theatre, which included positions in London in 1987-89.

Returning to NZ in 1989 commenced work in Intensive Care; completing post graduate certificate in Intensive Care Nursing and Bachelor of Nursing. Returning to UK 2002, started at St Marys London in Intensive Care before leaving in 2004 to establish and managed the Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Service including development of a PICC service. 2008 completed MSc in Advanced Nursing Practice at Kings College London.

 Vascular Access Lead Nurse at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust since March 2010, developing a team across the organisation to insert PICC and midlines using ultrasound technology, whilst leading on procurement , policies , education and audit related to vascular access .  Completed post graduate certificate in Infection at Imperial College in 2013. Interim General Manager for Infection Control October 2016-August 2018, returning to the Vascular Access Lead Nurse role at this time.

Published a number of articles over time including Medical Adhesive Skin Injuries (MARSI) in PICCs, intraluminal occlusion prevention, Care bundles in preventing CRBSI and OPAT.

Jenniferth Aviles Moreta is the Clinical Nurse Specialist for Homerton University Hospital OPAT and Vascular Access Service. The service has expanded its scope since its launch in 2015 and as part of her role Jenniferth places planned USS guided peripheral, midlines and PICC lines for all patients with difficult and long term vascular access needs. She works closely with a range of clinicians to deliver evidence based care and actively promotes vessel health preservation. The roles remit covers patients cared for in the community and she works with community teams to support complex OPAT delivery at home, self-management pathways and virtual clinics. She is enthusiastic in arming patients with the skills and knowledge to empower them to ultimately take responsibility for their own care needs in relation to IV line care and the safe delivery of their IV antibiotics, promoting their independence.

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.

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.

Having started his nursing career in acute medicine, Paul progressed into Community IV Therapy / OPAT services in the mid Mersey region in 2010. Initially developed as a primary care service, the team now forms part of the community care group within the local acute trust. The service has saved over 70,000 bed days since 2010, taking both step-up and step-down referrals. The service has seen an increase in extended provision in recent years with the out of hospital delivery of neutralising monoclonal antibodies (Covid Medicines Delivery Unit), diuretics (Frailty), Bisphosphonates / IV Fluids (Specialist Palliative Care Team). 

Special interests include vascular access, out of hospital ultrasound guided line insertion and the development of virtual wards.