Leg ulcers are a common, painful debilitating condition, characterised by long periods of ulceration and a high incidence of recurrence. Despite this, little attention tends to be given to prevention and education regarding the wide-ranging effects that leg ulceration has on a person’s quality of life.

In the past decade, radical changes have occurred within the provider healthcare setting. GPs are looking into the cost-effectiveness of treatments for their patients and the provision of services available for purchase from an NHS provider organisation. The restructuring of clinical services and a new pattern of provision organised around the concept of lower limb care could result in service provision being further fragmented within the category of long-term conditions that require specialist management by an appropriately trained clinician.