References

Guest JF, Fuller GW, Vowden P. Cohort study evaluating the burden of wounds to the UK's National Health Service in 2017/2018: update from 2012/2013. BMJ Open.. 2020; 10:(12) https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045253

National Wound Care Strategy Programme. Recommendations for lower limb ulcers. 2020. https://tinyurl.com/yufhsfku (accessed 3 August 2021)

Improving care for ‘Cinderella’ patients with non-diabetic lower limb wounds

12 August 2021
Volume 30 · Issue 15

The Legs Matter campaign is seeking to improve the care of patients with lower limb wounds. It is widely recognised that there are considerable variations in clinical practice/services which can lead to delays in diagnosis and ineffective or inappropriate treatment plans. This results in increased health service spending, plus a greater burden on clinical resources and elongated patient suffering due to extended healing times.

In 2017/2018, more than 1 million people in the UK had active lower limb ulceration, which was a 37% increase of prevalence since 2012/2013 (Guest et al, 2020). The increase in prevalence has been linked to a substantial increase in resource consumption, with patient management costs increasing by 48% from 2012/2013 to 2017/2018. There has been a call for structural changes within the NHS in order to manage this increasing demand and improve patient outcomes (Guest et al, 2020).

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