Variations in care Resources

This article provides a summary of the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) report published in 2021 for dermatology (NHS England, 2021a). It puts it into perspective within the national scene of reviewing National Health Service provision across the UK for various hospital-based medical and surgical specialties. It highlights the key concerns raised and the suggestions made to improve patient care for those presenting with dermatological conditions, with a focus on issues affecting those working within primary and community care settings. All the information can be found in the report itself. Further resources to support access to training and clinical pathways are listed in Box 1. The GIRFT report also highlights case studies and examples of services that have implemented initiatives and service redesign to address the recommendations made.

Recently, the national wound care agenda has centred around the cost of wounds to the NHS, inadequate holistic wound assessment, reducing unnecessary variations in care and increasing supported shared care. This article demonstrates how one organisation, by transforming the delivery of wound care services into one, addressed those factors while also freeing up valuable community nurse time. It also describes how working in partnership with industry can not only assist in improving the care journey for patients, but also liberate and empower clinical staff.