Being told you need intravenous therapy can feel daunting – especially if you assumed it would mean days or weeks in hospital. The good news is that many IV treatments can now be delivered safely and effectively at home, allowing you to recover in familiar surroundings while receiving the same standard of clinical care.
At Golders Green Nursing, we have been providing specialist IV therapy at home across North and Central London since 1990. As a nurse-led agency, clinical excellence is at the heart of everything we do. This guide explains how home IV therapy works, who it is suitable for, and what you can expect.
What Is IV Therapy at Home?
Intravenous (IV) therapy involves delivering medication, fluids or nutrients directly into the bloodstream through a vein. It is one of the most effective ways to administer certain treatments because medication reaches your system quickly and at precisely controlled doses.
Home IV therapy means this treatment is carried out in your own home rather than on a hospital ward. A qualified IV specialist nurse visits at scheduled times, administers the therapy, monitors you throughout, and ensures everything is progressing as it should.
This is not a compromise on quality. You receive the same treatment as you would in hospital, delivered by experienced nurses who specialise in intravenous care. The difference is that between visits, you are resting in your own bed and surrounded by the people who matter most to you.
Types of IV Treatment Available at Home
The type of treatment you receive at home will depend on your diagnosis and the plan set out by your consultant or GP. Here are the most common forms of home IV therapy that our nurses deliver.
IV Antibiotics
This is one of the most frequently requested home IV services. Patients recovering from serious infections – such as cellulitis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis or post-surgical infections – often need days or weeks of intravenous antibiotics. Rather than remaining in hospital for the entire course, many patients can be discharged home with treatment continuing under the care of a specialist nurse.
Our nurses work closely with your prescribing consultant to follow the exact antibiotic protocol, monitoring for adverse reactions and reporting back on your progress.
IV Hydration Therapy
Dehydration can be a serious concern for elderly patients, those recovering from illness, or individuals who struggle to maintain adequate oral fluid intake. IV hydration delivers fluids and electrolytes directly into the bloodstream, restoring balance more quickly than drinking alone.
Home IV hydration is particularly valuable for patients with chronic conditions or frail elderly individuals who may become dehydrated during hot weather or periods of reduced appetite.
Chemotherapy Support and Symptom Management
While chemotherapy itself is typically administered in a hospital or specialist oncology unit, home IV therapy plays an important role in supporting cancer patients between treatment cycles. This can include IV hydration, IV anti-nausea medication, or IV nutrition support for patients who are struggling to eat. Our nurses work in close coordination with your hospital team to ensure continuity of care.
Other IV Treatments
We also deliver parenteral nutrition for patients with digestive conditions, IV pain relief, anti-fungal treatments, and immunoglobulin therapy. If your consultant has recommended home IV therapy for a specific medication, our clinical team can discuss whether we can support it. Visit our IV therapy service page for more details.
Who Is Suitable for Home IV Therapy?
Home IV therapy is appropriate for many patients, but not everyone. The decision is always made in consultation with your medical team. Generally, you may be a good candidate if:
- Your condition is stable enough for you to be at home between nurse visits
- You have a suitable venous access device in place – such as a PICC line, midline catheter, or peripheral cannula – or one can be inserted
- Your home environment is clean and safe for clinical procedures
- You or a family member can recognise and report any changes in your condition between visits
- Your consultant or GP supports the decision for home-based treatment
Patients who are clinically unstable, require continuous monitoring, or whose treatment carries a high risk of serious adverse reaction will generally need to remain in hospital.
If you are unsure whether home IV therapy is right for you or your relative, our clinical team is happy to discuss your situation. You can also explore our broader district nursing services for other types of clinical care at home.
Safety and Clinical Protocols
Safety is understandably the primary concern for anyone considering IV therapy outside of a hospital. At Golders Green Nursing, every aspect of our IV service is designed to meet the highest clinical standards.
Specialist IV Nurses
Every nurse we assign to IV therapy has a minimum of three years of dedicated IV experience. These are registered nurses with specialist training in intravenous access, medication administration, infusion management, and the recognition of complications such as phlebitis, infiltration and allergic reactions.
As a nurse-led agency, our clinical leadership understands IV therapy from first-hand experience. Our protocols and quality assurance are shaped by people who have stood at the bedside themselves.
Equipment and Ancillaries
Our nurses carry all necessary ancillaries to every visit – infusion sets, syringes, flushes, dressings, sharps containers, and monitoring equipment. You do not need to source or store any clinical supplies. We bring everything required and remove all clinical waste safely.
Close Coordination with Your Medical Team
Our nurses work in close partnership with your prescribing consultant, GP, and hospital team. We follow the treatment plan set out by your doctor, provide regular clinical updates, and escalate any concerns immediately.
Up to Three Visits Per Day
Some IV medications need to be administered multiple times a day. We provide up to three nursing visits per day to accommodate treatment schedules that require frequent dosing, with each visit timed according to your medication protocol.
Emergency Protocols
All our nurses carry emergency protocols and have direct access to our clinical team during any visit. In the unlikely event of a serious adverse reaction, our nurses are trained to manage the immediate situation and will arrange transfer to hospital if necessary.
Advantages of IV Therapy at Home
There are many reasons why patients and families choose home IV therapy over an extended hospital stay.
Reduced Risk of Hospital-Acquired Infections
Hospitals carry a higher risk of exposure to infections such as MRSA, C. difficile and other resistant organisms. Recovering at home significantly reduces this risk – particularly important for patients whose immune systems may already be compromised.
Comfort and Wellbeing
Most people recover better in their own home. You can sleep in your own bed, eat meals you enjoy, and have family and friends around you. The psychological benefit of familiar surroundings can make a real difference to how quickly and how well you recover.
Family Involvement
When treatment takes place at home, family members can be more involved in the care process – observing visits, asking questions, and feeling confident about what is happening. This is especially valuable for elderly patients whose relatives want to be closely involved in their recovery.
Freeing Up Hospital Beds
When patients who are well enough continue their IV therapy at home, it frees up hospital beds for those who need them most. NHS hospitals actively encourage this, which is one of the reasons we work so closely with hospital discharge teams.
How GGN Coordinates with Hospitals for Discharge
One of the things that sets Golders Green Nursing apart is our experience in coordinating directly with NHS hospital wards to facilitate early or timely discharge. Here is how the process typically works:
- Referral – Your consultant, ward nurse or discharge coordinator contacts us (or you contact us directly) to discuss your IV therapy needs. We also accept referrals from GPs and private consultants.
- Clinical Assessment – Our clinical team reviews the treatment plan, medication protocol, frequency of administration, and any special requirements.
- Discharge Planning – We coordinate with the hospital ward to agree a discharge date and ensure your venous access device is in place, medications are prescribed, and all documentation is provided.
- First Home Visit – Our IV specialist nurse visits you at home, often on the same day as discharge or the following morning. They carry out a full assessment, administer your first home dose, and ensure you and your family are comfortable with the arrangements.
- Ongoing Care – Visits continue according to your treatment schedule, with our nurses reporting back to your consultant and making any necessary adjustments in consultation with your medical team.
This joined-up approach means there is no gap in your treatment when you leave hospital. We have worked with wards across North and Central London for over 30 years, and hospital teams trust us to deliver.
If you are currently in hospital, ask your ward nurse or discharge coordinator to contact us. You can also learn more on our post-operative care page.
What to Expect During a Home IV Therapy Visit
If you have never had a nurse visit you at home for IV therapy, here is what a typical visit looks like.
Before the Visit
Your nurse will confirm the visit time in advance. You do not need to prepare anything special, but it helps to have a comfortable chair or bed where you can sit or lie down, and to make sure the area is well-lit.
During the Visit
On arrival, the nurse will check your identity, review your condition, and take observations such as temperature, blood pressure and pulse. They will prepare the medication, check it against the prescription, and connect it to your IV line.
Depending on the medication, the infusion may take anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple of hours. Your nurse will remain with you throughout, monitoring for any reactions.
After the Visit
Once the infusion is complete, the nurse will flush your IV line, apply fresh dressings if needed, and dispose of all clinical waste. They will document the visit and confirm the next appointment. You will always have a contact number to reach our clinical team between visits.
Understanding the Costs
The cost of home IV therapy depends on the type of medication, the number of daily visits required, and the duration of the treatment course. Some patients have their care funded by the NHS – particularly when it facilitates early discharge. Others may be funded through private medical insurance, or choose to pay privately.
We are transparent about fees and provide a clear breakdown before care begins. To discuss costs or funding options, please get in touch with our team.
Why Choose Golders Green Nursing for IV Therapy at Home?
Golders Green Nursing has been providing clinical nursing care in the community since 1990. We are a family-run, nurse-led agency, which means clinical quality is part of our identity. Here is why families across London trust us with their IV therapy:
- Specialist IV nurses with a minimum of three years of dedicated IV experience
- Up to three visits per day to accommodate complex medication schedules
- All ancillaries carried by our nurses – you do not need to arrange any supplies
- Close coordination with consultants and hospital teams for safe, seamless care
- Proven track record of working with NHS wards to facilitate discharge across North and Central London
- Nurse-led clinical governance ensuring every aspect of your care meets the highest standards
- Over 35 years of experience as a trusted provider of home nursing care
Get in Touch
If you or a family member needs IV therapy at home – or if you are a healthcare professional arranging home IV care for a patient – we are here to help. Our clinical team can discuss your requirements and arrange care quickly, often within 24 hours.
Call us on 0208 371 9592 or email [email protected] to speak with our team.
You can also visit our IV therapy service page for more information, or use our contact form to send us a message.