I am delighted to introduce the JCN
supplement,‘Start exploring the reality
of wound healing’, which focuses on the
importance of providing patient-centred
care based on thorough holistic assessment,
and accompanies a series of JCN study days
supported by Urgo Medical.
The prevalence of lower limb ulceration,
lack of evidence-based care, and poor healing
outcomes, as found in Guest et al’s seminal study (2015), have
highlighted the need for investment and focus in this area of care.
Current challenges involve ensuring effective holistic assessment,
diagnosis, treatment and prevention of wound care complications
to improve outcomes and patient experience, while also minimising
costs. For leg, diabetic foot, and pressure ulcers this necessitates acting
early (i.e. from day one) to reduce healing times.
This supplement provides a clinical practice update on these
issues. Leanne Atkin gives an overview of the findings from Guest et
al (2015) and looks at why variations in practice need to be avoided
both to reduce costs and to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
Evidence-based practice, together with following clinical care
pathways based on good quality evidence, are vital to ensure that care
is standardised and of the best quality possible, as is shown in the
papers on these topics. The supplement also looks at the introduction
of the minimum dataset for wound assessment (introduced in
2017), and how one trust has audited initial findings in line with the
Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) scheme.
I hope that you enjoy reading this supplement and find it both
informative and useful in your day-to-day practice.
Lorraine Grothier,
head of clinical services, Urgo Medical
Let’s shift the focus to
wound healing
©Wound Care People Limited 2018
Unit G, Wixford Park, George’s Elm Lane,
Bidford on Avon, Alcester B50 4JSISSN 0263 4465
Journal of Community Nursing
is indexed with CINAHL and
British Nursing Index (BNI)
t: +44(0)1789 582000
e:
binkie@jcn.co.uk http://www.jcn.co.ukAll rights reserved. No part of the this
Journal of Community Nursing
supplement may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted
by any means electronic or mechanical, photocopied or otherwise without
the prior written permission of Wound Care People Limited.
Printed in England by Blackmore Ltd, Shaftesbury
i
Contents
4 Burden of wounds: are we causing harm to our patients? Leanne Atkin 7 Evidence-based practice in wound care Caroline Dowsett 12 What should a clinical care pathway look like in wound care? Jacqui Fletcher 15 Wound assessment CQUIN Jeanette MilneJCN supplement
2018,Vol 32, No 2
3
Journal of Community Nursing
EDITORIAL
Managing director
Nicola Rusling
nicola@woundcarepeople.co.ukPublisher/editor
Binkie Mais
binkie@woundcarepeople.co.ukBusiness director
Alec O’Dare
alec@woundcarepeople.co.uk07535 282827
Sales manager
Sam Ciotkowski
sam@jcn.co.ukOpinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and
do not necessarily reflect those of Wound Care People Limited.
Any products referred to by the authors should only be used as
recommended by manufacturers’data sheets.