"Cured my infection & saved my mental health"

I was admitted to Glasgow Royal for an arranged total reverse shoulder replacement at the end of July, I suffer from arthritis and was in constant pain from the joint. Surgery went well and I was discharged the following day.  Upon going for my check up two weeks later i was told that routine tests that were done on samples taken around my previous implant site has identified an infection and I needed to be admitted back into hospital for antibiotics.

I was admitted to Glasgow Royal that evening with no idea how long for. I am not local to the Glasgow area I live within Forth Valleys area so being in Glasgow was not ideal. After a few days in Glasgow during which I was becoming increasingly more depressed I was told that they had arranged with Forth Valley that I could be admitted to the OPAT service to continue my antibiotic regime, it would allow me to return home and require that I attend the clinic every day for the next six weeks for my treatment. After five very long days and nights i was released home and the following day I reported to Forth Valley Royal Hospital OPAT department for treatment. The nurses, Isobel, Louise and Lindsay were wonderful and put me at ease right away, they were all extremely friendly. So for the next five and a bit weeks I made my daily pilgrimage to the OPAT clinic, they checked my bloods regularly to monitor the infection, Isobel even removed a stubborn stich left over from my surgery whilst bein run off her feet. My bloods improved, the surgeon who performed the operation was pleased with my wound, the signs of infection were gone, I was ready to be discharged.

I can't thank the OPAT team enough, they got me out of the hospital, I don't think I could have managed staying in hospital as an in-patient all that time,  I definitely would have came out a different person than the one who went in. I feel being at home has improved my progress with my recovery from surgery exponentially, I know I have a long way to go but I'm closer than I would have been had I been hospitalised for the past six weeks. Without OPAT I would not be able to return to work next week and start getting my life back to normal. They not only cured the infection they saved my mental health. I would recommend the service to anyone who has to undertake an antibiotic regime for infections over being hospitalised as it gives you your life back.