P07 Humanizing the transition - improving patient understanding of OPAT and Virtual Wards at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust - Conclusion

Sep 29, 2026

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) and Virtual Wards can be unfamiliar and anxiety-provoking, prompting demand for clearer patient information and more visible, approachable clinical teams. A multidisciplinary task and finish group used iterative Plan–Do–Study–Act cycles to design and refine a patient-facing digital resource at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, guided by 2023 OPAT conference insights and direct patient input. The final webpage includes animated journey clips, OPAT team video introductions, a patient story, and QR access to support smoother transitions to community care.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Methods

Innovation

Patient input

Conclusions

Implications for practice

Posters Abstract citation ID: dlaf239.011 P07 Humanizing the transition: improving patient understanding of OPAT and Virtual Wards at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust Fiona Throp1, Cheryl Way1, Sarah Hall1, Kay Green1, Sarah Fancy1 1Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, UK Background: Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) and Virtual Wards can be unfamiliar and anxiety-provoking for patients. Feedback from the 2023 national OPAT conference highlighted the importance of clear, accessible patient information and visible, approachable clinical teams. Patients particularly valued personal connections, reassurance, and opportunities to understand the journey before transfer to community care. Methods: A focused task and ﬁnish group was established, bringing together OPAT clinicians, digital innovation specialists, and patient representatives. Using the Plan– Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycle, the group designed, tested, and reﬁned a new patientfacing digital resource. Insights from the 2023 OPAT conference and direct patient feedback guided iterative development to ensure accessibility, relevance, and impact. Innovation: The completed OPAT information webpage provides: (i) four short, animated clips illustrating the patient journey and what to expect on a Virtual Ward; (ii) video introductions from the OPAT team, presenting the real people behind the service and their motivations for working in community care; (iii) a patient story describing lived experience of OPAT, highlighting challenges and beneﬁts; and (iv) QR code access, enabling referring teams to share the resource before discharge or at the point of transition. Patient input: A patient presentation at the 2023 OPAT conference was central to shaping this work. His ‘top tips’ for OPAT—’sell yourself, provide information on the OPAT team, and include photos’—directly inﬂuenced the webpage design. Objectives: To reduce anxiety during the transition to OPAT/Virtual Ward care; to provide reassurance through clear, accessible information; and to present a welcoming, professional, and approachable community team. Conclusions: This project shows how a focused task and ﬁnish group, supported by the PDSA cycle and digital innovation, can translate patient feedback into practical resources that enhance the OPAT experience. By combining animation, team visibility, and patient voice, the webpage fosters conﬁdence and engagement, supporting a smoother transition from hospital to community care. Implications for practice: This approach demonstrates the value of integrating patient feedback with digital solutions to improve service communication and offers a scalable model for other Virtual Ward and community healthcare pathways.

FAQs

Why was a new patient-facing resource needed for OPAT and Virtual Wards?

OPAT and Virtual Wards were unfamiliar and anxiety-provoking for patients. Feedback emphasized the need for clear, accessible information and clinical teams that feel visible and approachable.

How was the digital resource developed?

A task and finish group worked with OPAT clinicians, digital innovation specialists, and patient representatives. Development followed an iterative Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycle using conference insights and patient feedback.

What features does the completed OPAT information webpage include?

It provides four short animated clips of the patient journey, video introductions from the OPAT team, a patient story, and QR code access for sharing the resource before discharge or at transition.

Sep 29, 2026

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