Transforming wound care

Improving care for patients with lower limb wounds

We are supporting the Transforming Wound Care programme to ensure that all patients with lower limb wounds receive the best possible care which leads to:

  • faster healing of wounds
  • improved quality of life for patients
  • reduced likelihood of wound recurrence
  • effective use of health and care resources

The programme uses the evidence, learning and recommendations from the National Wound Care Strategy Programme (NWCSP).

We supported Lincolnshire Community Health Services (LCHS) NHS Trust to establish a dedicated Lower Limb Wound service for house bound patients in Skegness and Mablethorpe, which has a high number of elderly and infirm people.

The work undertaken across seven local Health Innovation Networks has informed national policy and operational planning guidance and added to a suite of free to access multi-profession education resources.

Working with the HINs to implement the National Wound Care Strategy Programme Leg Ulcer recommendation has given us a huge amount of insight and knowledge into programme management, data collection and collaborative working. We thank you for your support and the critical role that you had in enabling the implementation and learning from this programme.

Professor Charlotte McArdle, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer NHS England

Learn more about Transforming Wound Care

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Impacts

In just three months, the LCHS set up the programme team, developed their programme plan, identified the patient caseload, and began training.

A new template for recording patient’s wounds progress, and core metrics such as healing rates and number of patients in strong compression were developed.

Almost 20% of patients treated have been healed within twelve weeks from initial assessment, with many having previously been ‘treated’ for up to two years with no resolution.

The team saved up to 240 hours of clinical time, which frees up staff to assess and treat new patients earlier. If the service can be spread to this patient cohort across the county, there is the potential for releasing over 5,000 hours of clinical time, along with potential cost savings of £1.5 million.

My legs are not as swollen and heavy so I am able to mobilise easier. I am now able to get into a car and go out which I have not done for a very long time. I am no longer in pain all the time.

Patient feedback