Supported self-care: not fending for themselves

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have heard a lot about this new opportunity to promote self-care in delivering leg ulcer management. Legs Matter aims to empower patients and their carers to manage leg conditions better, so it is a positive development to get legs onto the NHS agenda, especially at such a critical time. The Legs Matter coalition has taken every opportunity to highlight our work and the positive outcomes for some during this crisis. Leanne Atkin, a vascular nurse specialist and the chair of Legs Matter, was interviewed on a local radio news show and we were delighted to support a feature in Daily Mail online where a couple described the support they received to manage the husband's leg ulcer at home. The National Wound Care Strategy Programme and NHS England are keen to promote this aspect of a community nurse's work and to highlight that the pandemic has triggered a positive change in approach (https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/covid-19-healthcare-professionals).