{"id":51,"date":"2023-11-30T10:13:09","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T10:13:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/tissue-viability\/?page_id=51"},"modified":"2026-09-07T11:32:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T10:32:41","slug":"pressure-ulcers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/tissue-viability\/conditions\/pressure-ulcers\/","title":{"rendered":"Pressure ulcers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pressure ulcers\/injuries are areas of localised damage to the skin and\/or underlying tissue, usually over bony prominences or related to a medical or other devices, resulting from prolonged pressure or pressure in combination with shear (EPUAP, 2019).<\/p>\n

Typically, they occur in a person confined to bed or a chair by an illness and as a result they are sometimes referred to as \u2018bedsores\u2019, or \u2018pressure sores\u2019. All patients are potentially at risk of developing a pressure ulcer. However, they are more likely in people who are seriously ill, have a neurological condition, impaired mobility, impaired nutrition, poor posture or a deformity (NICE, 2014).<\/p>\n

The National Wound Care Strategy Programme (NWCSP) was commissioned by NHS England to improve the prevention and care of pressure ulcers, leg and foot ulcers and surgical wounds. Below are their recommendations.<\/p>\n

NWCSP-PU-Clinical-Recommendations-and-pathway-final-24.10.23<\/a><\/p>\n

Prevention and management<\/h2>\n

Pressure ulcers present a major health care challenge.\u00a0 \u00a0It has been recognized that pressure ulcers place a huge financial burden on the health care system and additionally result in a poor quality of life for the patient with an increased risk of morbidity. \u00a0It is also known that many pressure ulcers are avoidable.<\/p>\n

Efforts to reduce occurrence of pressure ulcers need to focus on prevention rather than cure. \u00a0If we are to manage rates of pressure ulceration best practice needs to be employed by the use of guidelines, educational support and provision of appropriate equipment.<\/p>\n

Nice guidance (2104) recommends using a validated scale to support clinical judgement when assessing pressure ulcer risk.<\/p>\n

Purpose T<\/h2>\n

On the 1st<\/sup>\u00a0April 2026 the Trust’s revised Policy for the Prevention and Management of Pressure Damage comes into effect and the PURPOSE-T pressure ulcer risk assessment tool will replace the Braden tool within the Trust.<\/p>\n