Care that is well-organised and research-informed improves healing rates, achieves better patient experience and makes better use of scarce NHS resources. However, UK wound care varies widely. Too often patients are not offered treatments that are known to be effective and too much trust is placed on treatments which lack such evidence. NHS England is funding the National Wound Care Strategy Programme (NWCSP) to scope and develop a national wound care strategy for England with a focus on;
1. Pressure ulcers,
2. Lower limb wounds, and
3. Surgical wounds.
We are identifying national standards of care that will reduce unwarranted variation, improve safety and improve patients’ experiences of care. We are also working to ensure that the right wound care products and treatments reach the right patients at the right time, seeking to improve education for clinicians, patients and carers and developing better ways to measure care so we can improve care. We are consulting with stakeholders throughout this process and would welcome feedback from anyone with an interest in wound care. Please sign up to a Stakeholder Forum at
www.nationalwoundcarestrategy.net.