Pressure Ulcer Prevention

The Importance of Pressure Ulcer Prevention Pressure ulcers have long been recognised as a challenge to healthcare. They are one of the top three burdensome harms in the UK, costing the NHS £3.8 million daily1 and they sit within the ‘top ten harms’ in the NHS in England2. Impacting quality of life, pressure ulcers cause significant pain and distress for patients, carry an increased risk of infection and can extend hospital stays by an average of 5 – 10 days3. All patients at risk of developing a pressure ulcer should be assessed and supported with an appropriate pressure-reducing strategy4, including the right support surface being provided at the right time.

Selecting the right pressure reducing or pressure relieving surface for patients will depend on their individual clinical needs combined with the care giver resource available.

Very simply, pressure ulcers develop when a large amount of pressure is applied to an area of skin over a period of time. The extra pressure disrupts blood flow, and the affected skin becomes starved of oxygen and nutrients, causing it to break down and ulcers begin to form.

As part of the prevention of pressure ulcers, an effective support surface will reduce pressure on at-risk areas by distributing the weight evenly over the entire contact surface, reducing pressure and significantly decreasing the risk of pressure damage.

The Winncare range of pressure ulcer prevention solutions includes dynamic, hybrid and static mattresses as well as cushions. Our Pure Air premium range of surfaces, supports improved patient outcomes for those at risk of developing pressure ulcers, when used as part of a package of overall care.

Pressure Ulcer Prevention

Selecting the right pressure reducing or pressure relieving surface for patients will depend on their individual clinical needs combined with the care giver resource available.

NHS Improvement guidelines and the National Wound Care Strategy Programme recommend the aSSKINg bundle as a methodology to aid consistency in pressure ulcer prevention practice.1