Insert name of presentation on Master Slide Pressure ulcers: why do they matter? June 16 th 2010 Presenter: Hamish Laing, ABM University Health Board

Pressure ulcers: why do they matter? Some of the reasons … Pressure ulcers are common Pressure ulcers are devastating Pressure ulcers are life-threatening Pressure ulcers are expensive Pressure ulcers are (mostly) avoidable!

Pressure ulcers: why do they matter? Pressure ulcers are common Recent European prevalence studies suggest that up to 20% of patients in an acute care setting will develop a pressure ulcer Vanderwee K et al. Pressure ulcer prevention in Europe: a pilot study J Eval Clin Pract 13(2) , 2007

Pressure ulcers: why do they matter? Pressure ulcers are devastating Loss of self-esteem Loss of independence Painful Offensive Frightening

Pressure ulcers: why do they matter? Pressure ulcers are life-threatening The most common cause of death from a pressure ulcer is from septicaemia but they can also contribute to a catabolic state

Pressure ulcers: why do they matter? Pressure ulcers are expensive Estimated costs are £4300-£6400 per patient to treat One patient in Ireland was shown to cost over £100,000 Equates to £2.64 Billion across UK NHS per year, at least £150M in Wales Riordan J, Voegeli D. Prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers Br J Nursing 18(20) S

Pressure ulcers: why do they matter? Pressure ulcers are expensive Prevention can be a major contributor to any savings from harm reduction Most of the cost is due to nursing time, extended length of stay and dressings Surgical reconstruction adds further expense Litigation averages £37,295, up to £375,000 NHS Litigation Authority

Pressure ulcers: why do they matter? Pressure ulcers in hospital are avoidable That was our hypothesis We accept that rarely this may not be the case They are seen as a proxy measure of quality of care by staff, patients and family

Pressure ulcers: why do they matter? Pressure ulcers are a “target” Annual Operating Framework Quality Accounts Nursing metrics Negligence claims

Pressure ulcers: why do they matter? Pressure ulcers are not acceptable If the general public know that pressure ulcers shouldn’t happen, why have we come to accept them as inevitable?