01 October 2020
It is estimated that 1.5% of the adult population in the UK is currently living with a leg ulcer (Guest et al, 2015). There is substantial evidence to suggest that venous leg ulcers are being poorly managed with delays in assessment, poor primary dressing choice and suboptimal levels of compression contributing to the delay in wound healing (Gray et al, 2018). The bulk of leg ulcer care takes place within primary care (Guest, 2015). Despite there being considerable evidence to support the use of compression therapy and undertaking accurate leg ulcer assessment, this does not appear to always happen in practice. This paper looks at how one clinic improved healing outcomes and patient quality of life through holistic assessment, patient education, supported self-care and introducing compression wraps into the treatment regimen.
