06 April 2020

The cost of treating wounds in the UK is comparable to obesity or cancer, and has a considerable impact on healthcare budgets. However, wound care receives surprisingly little attention, with education on this topic overlooked within the wider healthcare sector. Inadequate training can result in varying levels of care, impacting on patient outcomes, quality of life, and time and money spent on care. This article discusses the importance of accessible and flexible education. It looks at the National Wound Care Strategy Progamme, which aims, among other goals, to improve access to education for practitioners, patients and carers. The importance of continued professional development (CPD) and its impact on patient outcomes and quality of service is also addressed. It then goes on to look at the types of education available, and how we can keep up with the rapid developments in wound care science and available treatments.

14 March 2016

This feature asks experts in their particular field to take a look at a therapy area and examine some of the challenges that general practice nurses (GPNs) may face. In this issue, we look at wound cleansing and ask how...

19 June 2020

The human and economic burden of chronic wounds is increasing (Sen et al, 2009). In the United Kingdom alone, it is estimated that over 2.2 million wounds were treated by the National Health Service in 2012/13, at a cost of between £4.5 and £5.1 billion (Guest et al, 2015). Choice of wound dressing is therefore an important factor, not only in terms of comfort for the patient, but also in optimising clinical efficiency and thereby minimising treatment time and cost.

17 July 2019

Wound assessment is a vital skill for general practice nurses (GPNs); however, time pressures can sometimes impede the effective assessment of wounds in primary care. This article aims to provide GPNs with a rapid wound assessment approach that is evidence-based and person-centred. The author details the main points of wound assessment and outlines a holistic approach that considers biological, psychological and social factors, with the aim of improving GPNs’ assessment skills. An approach to wound assessment known as TIMES (tissue, infection, moisture, edge and surrounding skin) will be discussed. This will enable GPNs to understand the key factors that influence wound healing. The investigations used to identify any underlying disease processes that may affect wound healing are also considered. The author aims to assist GPNs to improve their wound assessment skills, which will, in turn, help them to exercise their best clinical judgement at all times.

01 June 2021

With the care of lower limb wounds taking up a considerable amount of caseload time for general practice nurses (GPNs), it is vital to look at services to ensure that they can both meet demand and improve patient outcomes. This paper explores how one practice created, implemented and streamlined a pathway of care for patients with lower limb issues. The pathway followed best practice evidence for lower leg care, i.e. initiating assessment of the patient and wound as quickly as possible, implementing compression therapy where appropriate, and then providing patients with education on how they can support their own long-term care. The practice team were able to adapt processes to utilise their local resources and remove some of the barriers to improving wound healing. The results significantly reduced patient numbers with lower limb wounds on the caseload and audit indicated that healing rates improved.

10 July 2023

Childhood eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition that affects millions of children worldwide. The condition is characterised by dry, itchy, and inflamed patches of skin that can appear anywhere on the body. While the physical symptoms of eczema are often the focus of treatment, the condition can also have
a significant impact on a child’s emotional wellbeing. Added to this, the strain that it can put on families in terms of loss of sleep, time off work, financial and time of managing a chronic condition, and sibling jealousy of attention given to the child with eczema can mean that the stresses of eczema are shared by the whole family, not just the affected child. This article examines these issues further with recommendations for how the emotional impact of eczema may be more effectively managed.

14 March 2016

A team of people with an interest in COPD, including two experienced respiratory nurse specialists, met to discuss the range of emotions that people and those around them typically experience when coming to terms with COPD. 

The aim was to explore how a sufferer reacts to a COPD diagnosis and how their changing emotional state affects their ability/ willingness to self-manage their condition and develop a care pathway. 􀀟

The team also considered the emotions of the carer along the pathway and their role in helping their loved one to change. 􀀟 The learnings from this work could help general practice nurses (GPNs) provide appropriate support to COPD patients to help them get to a stage where they are motivated and able to effectively self-manage. 

07 June 2022

17 July 2019

Nutrition is an important modifiable factor for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Being overweight brings breathing difficulties and being malnourished leads to poorer outcomes. Maintaining a healthy weight and a nutritious diet is a central part of COPD management. This article equips general practice nurses (GPNs) and patients with the tools needed to assess and promote a healthy weight and diet while living with COPD. It explains the reasons for malnutrition and how these can be avoided. Helping people improve their diet as well as the role of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are explored, and specific issues, such as vitamin D deficiency, are discussed.

21 December 2018

Why is there a lack of male nurses entering general practice nursing? I believe that the answer lies in a lack of understanding of the job role and clinical area.

The adrenaline rush and exciting demands of other clinical areas, such as A+E, ITU and trauma/ orthopaedics, attract many male nurses. The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI, 2015) recognised this by identifying that only 2% of the current general practice nurse (GPN) workforce is made up of male practitioners, thus severely under-representing the male nurse workforce.