• Stoma care and education
• Line care – PVCs, PICCs (including removal), CVCs
• Venepuncture and phlebotomy
• Medication management
• Monitoring following Fractures/Falls/Surgery
• Dressings and acute wound care

• I.V antibiotics – OPAT service (Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy)
• Sub – Cutaneous therapy and patient education
• Catheter care – Female/ SPC Re-Catheterisation
• Nursing care to support end of life care
• Management of enteral feeding – PEG Tubes
• Home support where applicable

Inclusion Criteria

• 16km radius of Cork City, Mallow and Midleton
• 32km radius of Cork City, Mallow and Midleton for I.V antibiotics
• Patients referred for I.V antibiotics must be administered with two doses I.V prior to CIT commencing
• Treatment centre available to those living outside catchment area
• Patients remain under the clinical governance of the referring clinician

Exclusion Criteria

• Chronic illnesses requiring more than 72 hours treatment (Excluding I.V antibiotics)
• A patient experiencing an acute episode of mental health illness
• I.V Fluids and blood transfusions
• Under the influence of illicit drugs or alcohol
• Under 16 years of age
• Residents outside the CIT catchment area and unable to travel to treatment centre

CIT is a nurse led service supported by a variety of other healthcare professionals and community services. CIT aims to provide enhanced acute interventions in a rapid and integrated manner to a patient with an acute episode of illness appropriate for care in the home/community. CIT provides additional short term supports in the community, avoiding hospital admissions and/or facilitating early discharge. In general, care is provided over a 72 hour period for patients. During the period of CIT intervention, Clinical Governance for the patient is retained by the referring clinician. In other words, clinical oversight and continuity of care is maintained for each individual patient.

Should the condition of a patient deteriorate during the CIT intervention period, that patient will be referred back to the referring clinician. In the event of an emergency situation arising, that patient will be transferred by ambulance to the nearest emergency department.

CIT also provide services to include the OPAT programme. Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy is a programme designed to deliver intravenous antimicrobials in a non-inpatient setting. OPAT patients are cared for by CIT for an initial period of 7 days after which time they are reviewed in the OPAT clinic. Following review, treatment is either discontinued or the patient is referred back to CIT. While with CIT the patient will receive weekly reviews in the OPAT clinic. Both S-OPAT and H-OPAT are provided by CIT. Patients will have received two doses of the prescribed antibiotic prior to CIT commencing.