Health NHS Foundation Trust Research Articles

Experience with setting up community intravenous therapy clinics.

The NHS Long Term Plan aims for patients to receive more options, better support and integrated care at the right time and in the optimal care setting. Community nursing teams at the Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust have experienced several challenges in delivering intravenous antibiotics (IV) to patients within their own homes, especially for non-housebound patients, due to the complexity of and demand on the service. Traditionally, intravenous antimicrobials are administered in the acute hospital or in-patient settings. However, there is now a growing trend to deliver intravenous antibiotic therapy within the community. Community nurses have a wealth of knowledge and skills that can support the delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan by developing new models of care in integrated care systems while supporting the implementation and delivery of the governments five-year action plan on antimicrobial resistance. This article describes how the community nursing service at Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust set up community IV clinics.

Follow the leader? A viewpoint on the exercise of leadership

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a viewpoint on the exercise of leadership.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides a view on the author's experience of exercising leadership as Leader of the Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Department in Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust (in England).FindingsThe author argues that leadership is as much intuition as science and considers how courageous leadership coupled with sound management can transform a service. A paradigm shift is proposed and its impact on various dimensions of the service is considered. Finally, but fundamentally, it is suggested that services need to re‐orientate themselves radically around the hopes and aspirations of those they purport to serve. They need to start doing things with people rather than to them.Originality/valueThis viewpoint provides insights relevant to anyone leading a small team within a large organisation or exercising organisation‐wide leadership. It will be particularly helpful to leaders seeking to find the answers in very turbulent times when the way ahead is far from clear.

Sexually transmitted infections

service director for sexual health, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust