The service expects to start treating its 150th patient this week, and to date has saved more than 5,500 bed days in the region’s biggest hospital. 

Fiona Elliot, Senior Charge Nurse for the OPAT service, said: “Being able to offer this service has many advantages. It is better for the patients involved – and their families - as they receive the treatment they need, either during a shorter hospital stay or without admission altogether. We can train them to administer their own antibiotics, and many people choose this option. This gives them real control over their care, while the service overall allows them to maintain their independence.” 

Clinical teams are encouraged to refer patients to the OPAT service, who will then decide if they are suitable for this type of treatment. People who require long-term intravenous antibiotic therapy typically have conditions like bone and joint infections, brain abscesses, or skin infections.  

Carol Spence from Stonehaven currently receives treatment from the OPAT service. She said: “I have a chronic infection at the base of my spine called Osteomyelitis. I take oral antibiotics daily and attend the OPAT service every 4 weeks to receive additional IV antibiotics. 

“I was receiving treatment prior to and during the pandemic, often at varying locations in the hospital with different staff, so I am really happy the new OPAT service is now in the one location. The staff are all amazing, so caring, supportive, professional with a big dose of fun added in! 

“My specialist nurses, Margaret and Shibi are very special people to me, as is my consultant Dr Vhairi Bateman. Being able to receive my treatment as an outpatient, and then go home, makes an enormous difference to me.” 

NHS Grampian was one of the first boards in Scotland to offer an OPAT service. It was paused due to COVID but restarted at the beginning of 2022. The service, which started operating on a 5 day a week basis, is now available 7 days a week in Ward 301 at ARI. The long-term ambition is to offer an OPAT service in other hospitals, with Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin identified as the next location. Eventually it is hoped the service will see between 350-400 patients each year. 

As part of the NHS Grampian Plan for the Future, the board is committed to supporting people to be partners in their care and to be able to access it in a way that is right for them. The OPAT service is one example of that commitment. 

Dr Andrew Seaton, Chair of the Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group and Consultant in Infectious Diseases, said: “OPAT is part of a wider Scottish Government initiative to deliver hospital care closer to home to improve patient experience and create more capacity in our hospitals. OPAT and other similar initiatives are particularly important now as they support COVID response and recovery. Although the Grampian initiative only re-commenced in January 2022 it is already contributing significant benefits to both patient care and increasing virtual capacity.”