Rethinking tissue viability services
It is estimated that the annual prevalence of wounds increased by 71% between 2012-2013 and 2017-2018, and feedback from wound care specialists suggests that services are frequently under pressure and at times overwhelmed.
The way healthcare services are provided has changed significantly in response to the coronavirus pandemic; this has presented new opportunities for wound care – including access to remote assessment and monitoring – but it has also exposed barriers to improvement, such as a lack of wound care data. As the immediate health crisis subsides, and trusts rethink their services, how should these experiences inform wound care strategies in the future?
Critical to achieving change is a partnership between directors of nursing and wound care specialists who understand the day-to-day challenges of providing effective patient care.
This Nursing Times discussion document aims to support this partnership and provides a list of action points that directors of nursing need to consider when planning wound care services. These were drawn up following a roundtable discussion with directors of nursing and service leads; in addition, interviews were conducted with experts in the field of wound care.
The document reviews the key problem facing wound care services, offers examples of best practice and highlights the support that services need to respond effectively to the growing problem of chronic wound management.
The discussion document was funded by an unrestricted educational grant from Mölnlycke. We hope it will support senior nurses and wound care specialists to review services and plan effectively for the future.
