Pressure ulcers can cause serious pain and severe harm to patients and cost the NHS billions of pounds each year to treat. Yet in the majority of cases they can be prevented if simple measures were followed. As part of its “10 for 2010” programme, the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) is urging NHS organisations across England and Wales to work towards preventing all pressure ulcers.
Solutions include observing patients’ skin and changing the position of patients at regular intervals as well as checking for a moisture free environment and monitoring their nutritional status. These small changes should make a big difference to reduce the chances of pressure ulcers from developing.
In addition, the NPSA will be conducting a number of briefings and workshops at NHS organisations, highlighting and urging staff to share best practice and to support local and national educational initiatives, such as “Your Turn”.
Caroline Lecko, patient safety lead for nutrition and pressure ulcers, said: “This programme is all about adopting a zero tolerance approach to pressure ulcers across the NHS. We will be encouraging clinicians to work together and to share best practice techniques that have proven successful in other hospitals or clinical settings. We will also be using reported patient safety incidents to help us prioritise which particular areas we need to concentrate our effort.”
Since 2005, there have been around 75,000 patient safety incidents reported to the NPSA of patients developing pressure ulcers. Analysis of the reported patient safety incidents has identified that pressure ulcers are not just associated with those typically considered at risk.
Caroline Lecko added: “We have had around 100 patient safety incidents of women developing pressure ulcers in maternity wards having given birth, which is clearly concerning. Therefore, as part of the programme, we will be highlighting that pressure ulcer prevention must be a priority for healthcare staff across all areas of the NHS.”
The pressure ulcers aspect of NPSA’s “10 for 2010 programme” will be a focus for the national quality and productivity agenda which aims to reduce harm from pressure ulcers, catheter acquired urinary tract infection, falls and venous thromboembolism (VTE). The NPSA will also be working to support NHS organisations and staff to further improve patient care in these clinical areas.
