New pilot announced to improve lower limb wound care

Establishing a lower limb wound care service for the local population 

The Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System has successfully applied to be a first site in the East of England as part of phase 1 of a new national programme to improve lower limb wound care.

In 2019, there were an estimated 739,000 leg ulcers in England with estimated associated healthcare costs of £3.1 billion per year¹. The biggest proportion of the burden of wound care is due to lower limb wounds.

Early modelling indicated that improving lower limb wound care would release 11% of community nursing time for other areas of care and reduce the spend on dressings due to faster healing and lower recurrence rates.

To help realise this potential, the AHSN Network has launched the  Transforming Wound Care Programme, which aims to support the adoption and spread of the evidence, learning and recommendations from NHS England’s National Wound Care Strategy Programme (NWSCP).

The programme is initially launching across Norfolk and Waveney following an application process won by the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board and will be delivered by two community providers – Norfolk Health and Care and East Coast Healthcare CIC.

Successful pilot sites are working with their local AHSN to build upon their current activity to ensure all patients with lower limb wounds receive evidence-based care proven to support:

• faster healing of wounds
• improved quality of life for patients
• reduced likelihood of wound recurrence
• more effective use of health and care resources

Rebecca Whitting, National Programme Director at the AHSN Network, leading the TWC programme, said:  

“Transforming Wound Care is an exciting programme which builds on the evidence and learning from the National Wound Care Strategy Programme. The AHSN Network will use its expertise in spread and adoption, working with local systems to support the implementation of the three programme elements. We are delighted to have our first Test and Evaluations sites on board and look forward to working with them on this journey.”  

Jennie Starling, Head of Community Commissioning, ICB, leading the TWC in Norfolk and Waveney  

“Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System is pleased to be successful in its application to become a Transforming Wound Care Programme Test and Evaluation Site (TES). Our health and care system has a strong existing alliance and this programme will enable us to access additional support so we can transform services at a greater pace, helping the people of Norfolk and Waveney to lead longer, healthier and happier lives.”  

Dr Una Adderley, Director of the National Wound Care Strategy Programme, said:  

“This is an incredibly important programme which will significantly improve the quality of life for people with lower limb wounds. It will also bring large productivity benefits, particularly for community nursing, reduce pressure on general practice, and prevent urgent admissions to acute care. Improving lower limb wound care will ensure that everyone with a leg or foot ulcer gets quick access to high quality diagnosis and treatment. We’re delighted to be involved in the spread of this work, building on the brilliant work and learning from the NWSCP.”  

Health Innovation East is one of five AHSNs participating in phase one of the programme, which will run until 2025, with evaluation beginning in 2023. The others are Oxford AHSN, Health Innovation Network (the AHSN for South London), Kent, Surrey and Sussex AHSN and South West AHSN.

Reference

1. KSS Insights. (September 2020). Health Impact Assessment: National Wound Care Strategy Programme. [Online]. Kent Surrey Sussex AHSN. Available at: https://www.nationalwoundcarestrategy.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/20200909_NWCSP-HIA_final.pdf [Accessed 18 October 2022].