NHS South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), working with partners from health, education, social care and the voluntary sector, has launched a pioneering pressure ulcer research project, PROACT.
Pressure ulcers cost the NHS up to £4billion a year* and can cause long term pain and distress for patients. PROACT aims to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of pressure ulcers (bed sores) with the public in South Tyneside and Sunderland and across a wide range of care settings.
Landmarks across South Tyneside and Sunderland were lit up in red ahead of the launch in support of the national pressure ulcer prevention campaign, React to Red, on World Stop the Pressure Day last month.
NHS South Tyneside CCG’s, director of nursing, quality and safety, Jeanette Scott, said: “Almost half a million people in the UK will develop at least one pressure ulcer, each year. Often, pressure ulcers are preventable if people are aware of the signs and symptoms.”
Ralph Boutflower, Tissue Viability Specialist Practitioner at City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our hospitals have seen big improvements in reducing pressure ulcers, but the big challenge we have at the moment is people who develop pressure ulcers either in care settings or in their own homes.”
University of Sunderland’s Dr Yitka Graham said: “PROACT aims to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of pressure ulcers and provide staff with the skills to make sure we prevent people suffering unnecessary harm.
Pressure ulcers can be life threatening and have a devastating impact on patients and their families but they are often/mostly preventable. The PROACT team will work together to prevent pressure ulcers by raising awareness with the public and within the wide range of care settings across Sunderland and South Tyneside.”
Ahead of the PROACT launch, health and care professionals gathered at a frailty conference in Sunderland to support the national React to Red campaign and commit to attending a series of PROACT awareness and educational meetings and events.
A separate arm of educational sessions will be held with staff working in care homes.
Jeanette Scott said: “PROACT will help us track the prevalence of pressure ulcers in care settings, including care homes and at home, and help us assess what work we can do to improve prevention.”
To find out more about PROACT visit www.southtynesideccg.nhs.uk/