This summer has seen many changes. We have a new Prime Minister and there are ongoing discussions about closer working and partnerships between health and social care.
Many of those working in health care have expressed their support for greater collaboration between these two areas, including many working within tissue viability. Indeed, in previous editorials I have discussed the importance of improving wound care, challenging barriers and embracing change.
We also face changes at the Wound Care Alliance UK (WCAUK) with the resignation of Professor Richard White, previous treasurer and WCAUK trustee for 15 years. As chair, I am fully aware of the commitment of being a trustee so I want to thank Richard for his support and careful guidance to the charity. I am indebted to him for his support, wish him well and hope he enjoys taking things a bit easier.
Further change will also take place at the British Journal of Nursing as the Editor and Editorial Director, Julie Smith, will be leaving soon. I have worked with Julie in my role representing the WCAUK on the editorial board of this supplement for some time. I want to take this opportunity to thank Julie for her professionalism and support in working with the WCAUK on the Tissue Viability Supplement, as well as at the BJN Awards. Her editorial skills are exceptional and we have appreciated working with her. All the WCAUK trustees wish her well in her new role.
For those of you who will be attending the Mark Allen Group Wound Expo 2019 conference at the RICOH Arena, Coventry, on 3–4 September, the WCAUK trustees look forward to seeing you on the WCAUK stand and during the presentations. I will be presenting in the wound assessment zone and look forward to seeing you all there. Further information is available online (https://woundexpo.com/).
One of the tools I will be utilising is ‘Implementing TIMERS: the race against hard-to-heal wounds’ a Journal of Wound Care consensus document developed by an international panel of wound experts (Atkin et al, 2019). The document offers an update on the previous TIME tool and can be downloaded and used as a guide to influence your structured care delivery.
The 9th annual WCAUK conference is to be to be held on Thursday 10 October 2019 at Doncaster Racecourse. The conference will focus on tissue viability and its legal aspects, with presentations by several of the trustees, including Professor Louise Toner, Sue Johnson, Melanie Lumbers, Monique Maries, Rosie Callaghan, Janice Bianchi and myself. The conference will provide a chance for members to take part in the interactive sessions and to meet the trustees.
Save the date of the 10th annual WCAUK conference on 16 April 2020 in Exeter. Further details will be published on the WCAUK website in due course (https://www.wcauk.org/).
Finally, this summer has also bought some sun—yes it has arrived! And the high temperatures serve as a reminder of one of the most important principles in tissue viability; keeping the skin intact and well moisturised—ie, protecting the body's largest organ. The British Dermatological Society offers a range of leaflets and videos for the public and they are all useful, particularly the Sunscreen and Sun Safety Factsheet (available at https://tinyurl.com/lvbvqbb). So help your patients to enjoy the sun safely.
I hope you enjoy your summer break and look forward to meeting with you in the autumn.