"Community Intravenous Therapy Service"

I have heart failure and have had this for several years requiring periodic hospital admission. Over the last bank holiday weekend my condition deteriorated and I was seen by the heart failure matron who arranged following day consultation with a specialist cardiologist who has a particulars interest in difficult to manage full heart failure patients.

Having seen the consultant I was offered a possibility of treatment in the community rather than being hospitalised. It was suggested that this may not be successful as my condition was poor and deteriorating but I asked if I could try the service. I was seen by the community intravenous therapy service. I was the first cardiology patient, this was new to both myself and the service.

I visited the clinic twice-daily for kintravenous therapy, my condition was monitored at least once every day by the cardiology service, treatment continued for five days. On the morning of day five my condition continued to deteriorate and the cardiologist and heart failure matron took the decision to admit me to hospital the same day for more extensive and aggressive therapy. Everything about the service was excellent and was without fault and I am grateful to both the cardiology department and intravenous therapy service for giving me the opportunity to stay at home. Unfortunately on this occasion and it was not successful however this was not the fault of anyone. Thank goodness for the professionalism of both these two services I am indebted to them both.

In future I hope to be able to use the service again and not wait until my condition is too severe, I believe that this will work for me and other cardiology patients in the Blackpool and surrounding areas catchment group. Once again excellent care, safe care and innovation. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.