Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust operates two community IV services:
Community IV Central (Norwich, North, South)
Primarily supports patients discharged from Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital or who live in Norwich, North and South Norfolk from 08:00 – 18:00
Community IV West
Pimarily supports patients discharged from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital or are living in West Norfolk from 08:00 – 20:00
Community IV Central Nursing Team
Our service
Both Community IV services enable patients to continue their course of IV treatments at home. This has many benefits such as increased physical activity, better nutrition and provides patients with the chance to see friends and family more regularly. It is a very safe way of caring for patients who need IV therapy but don’t need to stay in hospital.
The Community IV therapy nurse will assess the patient whilst in hospital, provide service information, gain consent and support the discharge process. The hospital will then notify the Community IV therapy nurse of the patient's discharge date and time and we will plan your first visit.
First at Home Visit
A Community IV Therapy nurse will visit the patient at home as agreed at the hospital. The Community IV Therapy nurse will arrive at the scheduled time and occasionally within 1 hour of the prescribed time (before or after). General observations including blood pressure and temperature will be taken at your first and subsequent visits (at least once daily) and any concerns will be discussed with the patient’s medical team.
Blood tests
Blood tests are performed typically once a week. Your Community IV Therapy nurse will let the patient know when a blood test is scheduled. The blood test results are usually available the following day, the Community IV Therapy team will discuss the results with the hospital medical team and let the patient know if there are any changes to your treatment plan.
The IV Line
The patient will be given written information on how to look after and monitor their IV line if they are given one. If they have any concerns with the line, please contact the Community IV Therapy team via the telephone numbers provided below.
Follow-up visits and discharge from the Community IV Therapy Service
Once you have completed your Community IV Therapy course, the IV therapy nurse will discuss with the patient and the medical team the removal of your IV line. Sometimes, a decision to leave the IV line in position is made. We will let you know if this has been recommended. Typically, the IV line is removed by the Community IV Therapy nurse after the last prescribed dose of IV medication. A dressing will be applied once the line has been removed.
Click here for a leaflet about the Community IV Central service.
Click here for a leaflet about the Community IV West service.
Contact Us
Community IV Central (Norwich, North, South)
T. 01603 518444 - For non-urgent call back from the Community IV Therapy Team: Daily, 8am until 6pm
Email - For non-urgent enquiries: CommunityIVTherapyTeam@nchc.nhs.uk Daily, 8am until 6pm
Telephone 111 - Urgent medical assistance out of hours 6pm – 8am.
GP - Please contact you GP for advice and treatment for other pre-existing conditions.
Community IV West
T. 07827 282721 - For non-urgent call back from the Community IV Therapy Team: Daily, 8am until 8pm
Telephone 111 - Urgent medical assistance out of hours 8pm – 8am.
GP - Please contact you GP for advice and treatment for other pre-existing conditions.