Trust makes new video about preventing and treating bed sores

Judy Harker, nurse consultant for tissue viability

The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has released a new video for its staff and the public about how best to treat and prevent pressure ulcers.

In the video Judy Harker, specialist nurse consultant for tissue viability at the Trust, talks about what can be done to combat and treat what is an entirely preventable condition in the majority of cases.

The video describes the different types of pressure ulcers (also known as bed sores) that people can suffer from as well as which groups of people are most at risk of developing a pressure ulcer. Nurse Judy Harker also outlines which areas of the body are most susceptible to developing a pressure ulcer.

The Trust currently operates a zero tolerance approach to avoidable and preventable pressure ulcers and the video reveals what measures the Trust has adopted to tackle the issue.

Judy Harker, nurse consultant for tissue viability at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Pressure ulcer prevention is not a new priority for the Trust. Over the last two years we have stepped up our efforts to reduce pressure ulcers across our hospitals. Our tissue viability team has been working closely with staff at all levels of the organisation to raise awareness of the importance of identifying and managing pressure ulcers correctly.

“These measures have resulted in a change in mindset and attitude of Trust staff when it comes to preventing pressure ulcers and stopping them from developing in patients. Staff no longer view pressure ulcers as an inevitable outcome of patients being frail or unwell. One preventative measure the Trust has rolled out across all of its hospital sites is the Skin Bundle. This outlines a number of interventions that can be taken to prevent patients from developing pressure ulcers in the first place.

“These interventions include making use of pressure relieving mattresses, carrying out regular skin inspections, moving patients and adjusting their posture when they have reduced mobility, keeping patients skin clean and dry at all times and ensuring patients remain hydrated at all times.”

The video also discusses the use of posters, information sessions and leaflets to keep patients, family members and staff fully informed about what the pressure ulcer warning signs are that they need to look out for.

The Preventing and Treating Pressure Ulcers Video is now available to download from The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust website and it is also available on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6fYkv-F1WY

More information about the improvements the Trust has made in reducing hospital acquired pressure ulcers can be found in its Quality Accounts Report 2012/13 which is available at www.pat.nhs.uk