New nurse led service - Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

NHS Grampian has launched the first nurse-led implantable port service in Scotland, with support from local cancer charity Friends of ANCHOR. 

 

Implantable ports are also known as portacaths or subcutaneous ports. A thin tube called a catheter is attached to a small reservoir called a port. It can be used to give chemotherapy or medicine into a vein, or to take blood samples. Unlike other devices, such as a picc line, a visible tube on the outside of the skin inserted in a vein, the port is implanted under the skin and can remain in place for months, or even years, as required. 

 

Implantable ports are not new, but their use was limited in Grampian to very specific patient groups. People undergoing cancer treatment had to travel to Glasgow or Edinburgh if they wanted to have one fitted. However, the health board has now taken a step ahead with a purely nurse-led service at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. 

 

Sheree Seddon is one of the nurses now trained to fit implantable ports. She said: “The difference these devices can make to patients is huge. External lines require weekly flushing and need constant care to ensure they are not pulled or damaged. A portacath is protected by the skin and an individual can go about their life as normal.” 

 

Colleague Nicky Ross added: “Cancer treatment involves a lot of needles into veins and over time it can be hard to get a ‘good’ vein to take a sample or administer medication. Sometimes this can delay treatment, which is clearly upsetting for people. With an implantable port, this worry is removed for both individuals and clinical staff alike.” 

 

In its first phase the service is focusing on those receiving breast cancer treatment and has already seen 50 patients. The long-term ambition is to treat 250-300 people annually, with the potential to extend into other types of cancer. 

 

Sheree said: “The support we have had from our colleagues on the oncology ward has been vital to the development of the service and we are so grateful to them.” 

 

The new service would not have been possible without the generous support of Friends of ANCHOR. The charity met the cost of training at the world-renowned Christie Hospital in Manchester and covered all the associated expenses. 

 

Senior charge nurse Robert Cockburn said: “Stepping into Christie Hospital felt like being a Highland League footballer suddenly being called to the ranks of the Premier League! We are so grateful to Friends of ANCHOR for making this training possible.” 

 

Erica Banks, head of fundraising and communications at Friends of ANCHOR added: “Robert, Nicky and Sheree saw an opportunity to bring this service closer to home for people in the North-east, and their dedication to making that happen will have a positive impact for many patients as the service continues to grow. 

 

“We’re very grateful to our donors and fundraisers, whose support gave this team the opportunity to undertake specialist training and develop the skills needed to establish this service locally. 

 

“Friends of ANCHOR’s commitment to the service continues, and we’ve recently approved further training for the team to expand their skills even further.” 

 

Andrea Dryburgh, nurse manager for radiology and outpatients said: “Robert, Nicky, and Sheree are so competent, confident, and assured in undertaking this new skill, it's great to see and they are fantastic ambassadors for their profession. With the launch of a nurse-led service, NHS Grampian is now taking a lead in Scotland.”