Click here for the Wounds UK Home Page August 2010

Exciting job opportunity Call for representatives

The governments proposed change to Primary Care Trusts and a return of the GP fundholder will herald another new era for the health service. Liberating the NHS: commissioning for patients aims to put the patient at the centre of health care commissioning and service delivery. This is a laudable aim, however, this seems also to have been the aim of the previous government. The news has been greeted with a mixture of excitement and apprehension, as many will remember the foibles of the past GP fundholding system. Ultimately this should result in better care for patients, however experience would suggest that there was also great inequality which developed often dependent on the area in which you lived, hence the postcode lottery of healthcare was born. I can also remember hospital consultants paying homage to the GP fundholder patients as though there was a need to keep the GPs happy in order to get return business. While it is good that due care and attention is paid, it should be there for all patients, not just those from the best paying consortia. We may also be witness to some new health care businesses emerging, such as we have seen in the form of Virgin Health. The GP's will be asked to join consortia, and these will vary in size according to the geographical area and population density. Some GP's are not convinced about these changes, clearly enforcing a more managerial role than the clinical focus which they have at present. There is also a great emphasis on the GP, with little mention of the nurses and allied health professionals who make up the health care team. In fact nurses are only mentioned twice. The impact of more managerial roles for GP's is likely to create a need for a larger number of highly trained practice nurses, running more and more clinics and out of hours services. I wait to see if there salaries match their responsibilities, but that's for another day. The impact on nurses may also mean that they may have different employers, and their salaries may not be determined by Agenda for Change. One interesting outcome was the development of social enterprises, which are led by nurses and aim to improve all aspects of patient care for those with long term conditions, which on the surface at least would seem a sensible solution for some of the most needy patients. For those involved in wound care, particularly in the community setting, there are likely to be a number of changes, good and bad which will impact on the way we work. As is often the case when a change in policy looms, we need to provide management with good quality data which proves that our services deliver high quality, patient centred care with the best possible outcomes, oh and don't forget cost effectiveness too. So I must end there, are we all feeling liberated? DH (2010) Liberating the NHS: commissioning for patients. DH London.

Forthcoming Events Useful References      Latest references

Keep reading for: Exciting job opportunity Call for representatives Lindsay Leg Club news Forthcoming Events Useful References Download this newsletter in PDF format   Exciting job opportunity Department For International Development (DFID) Wound Care Nursing Adviser, St Helena, October 2010 Duration: 3-6 months Apply by: July 31st The role: Working with the St Helena Government Public Health and Social Services Department, you'll review current wound care practice and develop a national protocol and nurse formulary for the wound care of patients in primary, acute and residential care settings. Main responsibilities include: Review and audit current wound care practice and identify recommendations for improvement Agree a formulary and protocols for different categories of wounds with key stakeholders Identify training needs around wound care practices and maintaining skin integrity Skills and experience required: You'll have a degree in nursing, have current registration and a post graduate qualification in wound care. You'll have worked as an independent wound care specialist, have knowledge of wound care formularies and NICE guidance. Package: Volunteer allowance, medical insurance, return flights provided by DFID, accommodation provided by the St Helena Government, training and support. Click here for a full job description Click here for further information We understand that the deadline has passed however, if you are interested in applying please email ruth.grearson@vso.org.uk   Keep reading for: Call for representatives Lindsay Leg Club news Forthcoming Events Useful References Download this newsletter in PDF format   Call for representatives The National Clinical Guidelines Centre which is hosted by the Royal College of Physicians has been commissioned by NICE to develop an evidence-based clinical guideline on lower limb peripheral arterial disease. The NCGC is currently looking to recruit members for the Guideline Development Group (GDG). GDG members are drawn from the NHS, healthcare professionals, patients and carers and academia. They do not represent their organisations but are selected for their expertise and judgment, experience of working with multidisciplinary and lay colleagues and understanding of evidence based healthcare. All members of guideline groups have equal status, which reflects the relevance and importance of their different expertise and experience. All group members are expected to attend all guideline development group meetings and undertake background reading. We understand that the deadline has passed however if you are interested in joining please see below for further information Invitation to apply Role description and specifications Declaration of interests form Equalities monitoring form   Keep reading for: Lindsay Leg Club news Forthcoming Events Useful References Download this newsletter in PDF format   Lindsay Leg Club news This September (29th and 30th) the Lindsay Leg Club Foundation will host its 10th annual conference at Worcester Rugby Club. This event has been steadily growing in stature over recent years and in 2010 the programme features several internationally renowned speakers including Professor Marco Romanelli (Italy), Professor Greg Schultz (USA) and Professor Helen Edwards (Australia) as well as key UK wound healing specialists (including Professor Keith Harding, Kath Vowden, Jacqui Fletcher and Professor Christine Moffatt). Full details of the event which includes a series of workshops facilitated by the key speakers can be found at http://www.legclub.org/events.shtml. The workshops will also feature sessions upon establishing a Lindsay Leg Club to give practical advice on the steps required to start a new Leg Club. Please consider attending this prestigious event to find out more about the work of the Leg Clubs and the Lindsay Leg Club Foundation. In June 2010 Wounds UK published a debate upon the myths and realities of the Lindsay Leg Club model. This piece allowed Leg Club lead nurses, Trustees and Patrons of the Lindsay Leg Club Foundation and Leg Club members to share their experience of the Model helping to defuse many of the common misconceptions surrounding the Lindsay Leg Clubs. As the new Chief Executive of the Lindsay Leg Club Foundation, my personal goal is to help create an environment in which there are real possibilities for the Lindsay Leg Clubs to flourish. Working with established Leg Clubs to help them grow and mature while seeking new opportunities to initiate new Lindsay Leg Clubs throughout the UK and beyond. To this end I would warmly welcome the opportunity to discuss the work of the Lindsay Leg Clubs with you. Dr Michael Clark Chief Executive Lindsay Leg Club Foundation   Keep reading for: Forthcoming Events Useful References Download this newsletter in PDF format   Forthcoming events - 13th Annual European Pressure Ulcer Meeting Pressure Ulcers: The Flourishing of Science to Support Prevention and Healing 1-3 September, 2010 The University of Birmingham, UK Click here for more information -11th Scottish Wound Care Conference Scotland's leading wound care event 9th September 2010 Glasgow Thistle Hotel, UK The conference offers and excellent opportunity for all nurses and podiatrists interested or involved in the management of wounds to come along and hear experts in their field present on a wide range of subjects relating to tissue viability. The event will be supported by a large exhibition which will allow delegates to keep up-to-date on the latest treatments and products available in the UK. Click here for more information -3rd Paediatric Wound Healing Conference 4 October 2010 Hilton Hotel, Aztec West, Bristol The agenda includes physiology of wound healing, neonatal skin care, traumatic wounds, skin grafting management, sepsis and meningococcal lesions, evidence based practice.There will be a large exhibition of child related products. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.The cost is £20 made payable to the UNB Tissue Viability Fund. To book a place contact catherine.hurring@molnlycke.com or phone 07919 375047. -Wounds UK Harrogate 15 - 17 November 2010 Harrogate International Centre, UK Click here for more information   Keep reading for: Useful References Download this newsletter in PDF format   References Hoffman D (2010) Managing leg ulcers caused by oedema, Wound Essentials Vol 5 Soutar D (2010) How to assess accurate burn depth, Wound Essentials Vol 5 Whyte S (2010) Preventing pressure ulcers in patients with mental health problems, Wound Essentials, Vol 5 Wood, L .Wood Z, Davis P and Wilkins J (2010) Clinical experience with an antimicrobial hydrogel dressing on recalcitrant wounds (67kb) Journal of Wound Care, Vol. 19, Iss. 7, 08 Jul 2010, pp 298 - 303   Download this newsletter in PDF format