Shot in the arm

THAT'S cool . . . Vicki Elcock with John Bispham who donated £450 for a fridge to store antibiotics at Butler Green Enhanced Intermediate Care Centre

A CANCER survivor from Royton is the first in the UK to trial "revolutionary" new treatment.

John Bispham (58) was given first-time access to an antibiotic pump that allows him to have specialist antibiotics without going to hospital.

John has a wound at the back of his knee due to surgery that was carried out on a tumour more than 25 years ago.

The wound is prone to tearing which can cause infections, resulting in regular trips to hospital to have antibiotics through an intravenous (IV) line, infusing the medication directly into a vein.

This would usually involve stays in hospital which meant self-employed electrician John had to take valuable time off work.

However John said he has regained his freedom after taking up the opportunity to trial an antibiotic pump which allows the medication to be released into his system via a portable pack.

Win-win

Staff at Butler Green Enhanced Intermediate Care Centre in Chadderton pointed him towards the new method which involves wearing the pack around his waist for 24 hours while the antibiotics are released slowly.

John said: "For me it's a win-win situation. I only have to go in for three or four minutes for them to change the pack and then I can go home and I'm not taking up a hospital bed.

"That means I can be at home which is where I want to be and I can organise things for the business as well."

The support John received from the team prompted him to donate £450 for the centre to buy a fridge to keep antibiotics in.

Urgent care manager at Butler Green Vicki Elcock said: "We know our patients would prefer to be treated in the community and be able to go home afterwards whenever possible. This new antibiotic pump could revolutionise the way we deliver care and help keep people in their own homes."

Butler Green, run by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, provides out of hospital care for people needing physical rehabilitation or therapy, or who have other medical needs that can be met in a community setting.