A General Election is an opportunity. So important is the government to the delivery of the NHS that, as a nurse, the coverage will be compelling viewing and listening for me. The productivity of the NHS is under scrutiny and there can be no doubt that there is a need to deliver better outcomes for the people of the UK.
One important issue is the lack of a clear strategy on social care, which has led to a crisis that has impacted the NHS. This needs to be a priority. Another issue is patients waiting on trolleys. In 2023, 35 000 patients waited for 12 hours on hospital trolleys every month in England (Lee, 2024). Working in tissue viability, my concern, apart from people waiting in discomfort or pain, is that this poses a significant challenge to pressure ulcer prevention.
Pressure ulcer questionnaire
Wound Care Alliance UK (WCAUK) is undertaking a scoping exercise regarding pressure ulcers in response to questions from WCAUK members. The questionnaire has been developed with master's students at Birmingham City University and the WCAUK trustees. It will only take a few minutes to complete, and your time is much appreciated. The questionnaire can be found at https://forms.gle/uV5hYQTEnmGJZjqn8 or use the QR code below. There is also a QR code for WCAUK membership.
Lower limb care
Following my presentation at the WCAUK conference in May on lower limb wounds, a discussion took place on the latest evidence. I am pleased that interest in lower limb care has made a resurgence. Having worked in primary care for over 25 years, I know the impact that lower limb wounds have and that there is a real need to focus on prevention and the maintenance of those with healed wounds. Legs Matter (2024) has reported that insufficient action on leg and foot conditions is harming people. Recently there have been significant developments to support evidence-based care.
The National Wound Care Strategy Programme (NWCSP) has developed leg ulcer and foot ulcer guidance (2023a; 2023b) and has expressed delight that community-based leg ulcer care has received recognition in the NHS England priorities and operational guidance for 2024-25 (NWCSP, 2024).
The All Wales Tissue Viability Nurse Forum (2024) has developed standards for leg ulcer care in Wales, including at initial contact and at 2, 4 and 8 weeks.
I attended the European Wound Management (EWMA) conference and I am pleased to highlight new guidance on lower leg ulcers (EWMA, 2023).
Become one of our trustees
WCAUK is seeking new trustees. If this has caught your attention then please see the Charity Commission's advice (2018) on what you need to know. I would be happy to discuss this with you via email (jackies_h@btinternet.com).
Finally, I wish you all a lovely summer break, we will all need one after all the electioneering.