Improving Leg Ulcer Management in Community Nursing and podiatry (ILUMIN)
What did we do?
ILUMIN aimed to support NHS community services in Greater Manchester and East Lancashire to make improvements in leg ulcer management, with a focus on three quality markers:
-
ensuring appropriate (and timely) doppler assessment;
-
the use of suitable compression therapy;
-
the use of compression hosiery (where appropriate).
Why is it important?
In 2015/16 we undertook a community-based survey of complex wounds and their care across our partner NHS organisations. The survey revealed a number of examples of good, evidence-based practice in community wound care, but also identified several opportunities to further optimise care for patients with complex wounds, in particular for those with leg ulcers - which the survey found to be the most common type of complex wound being treated in the community.
How did we do it?
In collaboration with community service leads within our partner NHS Trusts, we co-designed the ILUMIN project to operate optimally for each individual organisation. Data was collected on the three quality markers to monitor improvements, and community nursing teams (including District Nurses, Tissue Viability, Treatment Rooms and Podiatry) supported by the ILUMIN team using an audit and feedback approach. Data was discussed on a regular basis (e.g. as part of safety huddles), to assist teams in understanding their performance in relation to these quality markers, and provide opportunity to understand areas for improvement and identify potential changes that could be made (at an individual, team, service or directorate level). We evaluated the improvement work using interviews, observations, audit results and documentation analysis.
Who did we work with?
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
Downloadable Resources
More information
For more information please contact Alison Littlewood (Programme Manager) or Paul Wilson (Principle Investigator)