In the UK, over 700,000 patients are affected by pressure ulcers each year, costing the NHS more than 3.8 million pounds per day. This highlights the massive cost to the health and social care system that pressure ulcers and other wounds pose, and demonstrates the vital position that social care providers are in highlight, report and prevent pressure ulcers and other wounds from happening. Please find below a number of resources available to our members to assist them in this position:
National Wound Core Capabilities Framework
Attached below is a new national framework covering all roles and responsibilities in health and social care in England which has been introduced by the National Wound Care Strategy Programme. This document is particularly useful for care professionals to refer to in order to understand their responsibilities in tissue viability and skin care. Care professionals should refer to tier 1 for further details throughout this document.
» Click here to download the framework
Pressure Ulcers and: Prevention and Management
This guideline by NICE covers risk assessment, prevention and treatment in children, young people and adults at risk of, or who have, a pressure ulcer (also known as a bedsore or pressure sore). It aims to reduce the number of pressure ulcers in people admitted to secondary or tertiary care or receiving NHS care in other settings, such as primary and community care and emergency departments.
» Click here to view the guidance
» Click here for the powerpoint slides from the Pressure and Prevention webinar – 23.09.21
NHS Wounds Care Formulary
This formulary has been developed to assist any healthcare professional prescribing or requesting dressings for wound management in Hertfordshire. It aims to aid the decision-making process and help choose the most appropriate product whilst ensuring value for money in the use of NHS resources.
» Click here to view the Formulary
» Click here for the dressing exemption form
Hertfordshire and West Sussex Wound Care Formulary
This formulary has been developed to support any healthcare professional prescribing or requesting dressings for wound management in Hertfordshire and West Essex. It aims to aid the decision making process to help clinicians choose the most appropriate product while ensuring value for money in the use of NHS resources.
» Click here to download the ICS Wound Care Formulary
» Click here to download to National Burn Care Referral
Triangle of Wound Assessment
The Triangle of Wound Assessment is a holistic framework that allows practitioners to assess and manage all areas of the wound, including in the periwound skin.
To support optimal clinical decision-making all three areas of the wound should be considered.
Scabies
Scabies is a contagious skin infestation by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The most common symptoms are severe itchiness and a pimple-like rash.
Click here for more information about Scabies via the NHS
Below are some useful resources relating to scabies:
Click here for the PHE standard publication template – a useful document. The Action card for scabies in care homes is on page 15-16 and Appendix 3 has IPC precautions.
Click here for the Scabies Policy for care home settings
Click here for information from NICE regarding Scabies
Click here for Scabies guidance for treatment of outbreaks
Additional Resources
| Great Skin: Maintain High Quality Nutritional Care | Click here |
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| Great Skin: Incontinence and Moisture | Click here |
| Great Skin: How to keep patient’s moving | Click here |
| NICE – Quality standard on pressure ulcers | Click here |
| Tissue Viability Society – Understanding pressure ulcers when sitting for adults | Click here |
| SCIE and NICE – Quick guide on helping to prevent pressure ulcers | Click here |
| React to Red Skin website | Click here |
| React to Red Skin Pressure Ulcer Triggers resource | Click here |
Useful Contacts
- Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust pressure ulcer prevention, assessment and treatment guidance – contact local community nursing team to download or contact the tissue viability office to email a copy. 01923 686814
- Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust Wound Care Formulary – contact local community nursing team to download or contact the tissue viability office to email a copy. 01923 686814
- SCALE Skin Changes at Life’s End – Final consensus statement Contact Tissue Viability Office for details of how to obtain document if required.