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Informational/Educational Report
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Development of a new nurse-led complex wound service to enhance patient care Mark Collier, BA(Hons), Kathy Radley, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, UK The idea for a joint nurse-led complex wound clinic involving the Lead Nurse/Consultant - Tissue Viability, and the Clinical Nurse Specialist for Dermatology, for the benefit of patients within a large acute NHS Trust, was first muted in Spring 2002. Despite numerous obstacles clinics commenced in summer 2003 Since its inception, audits demonstrate that 92% of all patients referred to the clinic have shown both physical (reduced wound dimensions / improved skin conditions) and psychological (as reported by the patients) improvements. This has resulted in these patients requiring less frequent clinic visits, facilitating earlier discharge and reducing re-admissions of those patient's to the acute care setting. This has been achieved by having committed, readily available and evidence based resources (human, facilities and specialist materials) within the clinic facility The clinic has further enhanced communication between relevant members of the multi-disciplinary team and additionally has facilitated the education of colleagues (both formally and informally) and has provided a setting for educational visits Ñ local, national and international. This development has supported the ongoing work of the personnel involved as individuals to raise the profile of tissue viability / dermatology within their wider specialist fields The success of the Complex Wound Clinic will be illustrated with a variety of unusual cases including Necrobiosis Lipoidica. |
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