Collaboration and innovation for practice

 Tissue viability is a growing specialty that considers all aspects of skin and soft tissue wounds – including acute surgical wounds, pressure ulcers and all forms of leg ulceration. However, it is more than just wound management and covers a wide range of organisational, political and socioeconomic issues as well as professional relationships and education. Many of these issues will be addressed at the forthcoming Tissue Viability Society conference and exhibition, taking place 13-14 April 2010, at the International Centre, Telford. During this two-day event, delegates will hear from a variety of speakers from across the UK and Europe on the latest evidence and developments relating to best practice, innovation and collaboration in wound management. Topics include: evidence-based treatments in surgical wounds, the practical implications of the NICE surgical site infection guidelines, pressure ulcer prevention, the importance of gait in the management of lower limb ulceration, and the economic viability of wound care interventions.

Networking

Highlights include a presentation on “Better networking in wound healing”, by Michael Clark PhD, who occupies a number of professional roles in the field of wound management, including: professional adviser to the Tissue Viability Society, manager at the Welsh Wound Network, and chief executive of the Lindsay Leg Club Foundation. Across the UK, there is a growing awareness that wounds and wound healing are important to the UK economy. There has long since been recognition among those involved in wound healing that the costs of wound prevention and treatment are high. However, there are also economic benefits that can accrue through the UK’s perceived strength in the global wound healing marketplace. For example, Wales directly employs almost 1,600 people in wounds and wound healing with this sector worth between £70 million and £80 million pounds annually to the Welsh economy. If the UK is both to reduce its expenditure on wound healing, while maximising the economic benefits from having worldclass commercial, clinical and research leaders within the country, then mechanisms must exist to facilitate contact and networking between these sometimes separate groups. Michael Clark’s presentation will feature the growth and activity of the Welsh Wound Network as a leading example of successful networking, while also highlighting opportunities for networking that currently exist in the remainder of the UK.