Wales beats bed sores (Pressure Sores)

Welsh hospitals have been shortlisted for a top national award for qualliy improvement for their work in preventing bed sores.

Early last year, staff on Morriston Hospital's Anglesey ward introduced a new SKIN bundle in the hope of cutting rates of around 4% of their patients developing a pressure sore. But not one patient has developed a pressure sore since the start of the project in April 2008.

And the success hasn’t been limited to just one ward. The good practice has been rapidly spread with other wards reporting figures that have impressed health professionals across Britain.

As of 23rd December, figures included:

Morriston Hospital

Angelsey Ward- 604 days without a pressure ulcer incident
Ward B – 284 days without a pressure ulcer incident
Cyril Evans Ward – 205 days without a pressure ulcer incident
Dan Dannino Ward – 205 days without a pressure ulcer incident
Ward V – 138 days without a pressure ulcer incident
Ward E – 121 days without a pressure ulcer incident

Princess of Wales Hospital

Ward 11 – 117 days without a pressure ulcer incident
Ward 18 - 205 days without a pressure ulcer incident
Ward 19 - 205 days without a pressure ulcer incident
Ward 2 - 205 days without a pressure ulcer incident
Ward 20 - 236 days without a pressure ulcer incident
Ward 8 - 100 days without a pressure ulcer incident

Training and awareness sessions are being held throughout January and February across all four acute hospital sites – including community hospital staff - and ABM is on target to reach every general ward by the end of March 2010.

Treating pressure ulcers is estimated to cost 4p in every £ of the NHS budget, and can be potentially life-threatening to patients.

Mr Hamish Laing, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, commented:

“We have done fantastically well to even get shortlisted against a strong UK field.

“It is a fitting tribute to all the hard work of the project team in making this such a success, and of our colleagues on the wards in implementing the SKIN bundle with such enthusiasm and commitment.

“On average, before this project started, around one in nine of all our inpatients had a pressure ulcer and most of those had developed one whilst they were in hospital. These figures were typical of acute NHS hospitals. Treating pressure ulcers has been estimated to cost the NHS in the UK £2.1bn every year.

“These latest results are fantastic and show that it is realistic to have a zero tolerance approach to pressure ulcers in hospital.”

Pressure ulcers are a common problem for patients who have limited mobility, who sit or lie in one position for long times. Because blood flow is restricted by the pressure of their weight on parts of their body, the result can be severe tissue damage. Unfortunately pressure ulcers can lead to patients needing surgery and long stays in hospital.

The SKIN bundle means that patients are assessed on specific criteria within hours of coming onto the ward. The staff measure the skin integrity of the patient (S), make sure the patient keeps moving (K), and look at issues around incontinence (I) and nutrition (N).

The SKIN bundle measurements sit at the end of the bed and indicate any risks for the patient. It is also a useful communications tool for family and friends who are keen to keep up-to-date on the patient’s progress.

The work has already been recognised with an NHS Wales Award 2009 for Anglesey Ward.