Cost effectiveness of a specialist wound care service.

Abstract

The Burden of Wounds Study estimated the cost of wound care across the UK to be £5.3 billion, with £3 billion associated with hard-to-heal wounds. This article looks at potential cost savings of managing hard-to-heal leg ulcers in a specialist wound care service using a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach. This unique approach includes: a consultant dermatologist; a podiatrist specialising in mobility and gait; a clinical psychologist; clinical nurse specialists; and allied health professionals from tissue viability and lymphoedema services. Bringing together specialists from supporting disciplines provides a one-stop service for the patient. We conducted a retrospective analysis (over 365 days) of wound healing in patients attending the service for management of leg ulcers with differing aetiologies, including venous and atypical leg ulceration. Many of the patients referred to the service had a long wound history, between two and nine years, with a duration up to 25 years in the most complex cases. Within this complex cohort of patients, higher levels of focused compression was required (Accelerate Strapping, Accelerate, UK) for retromalleolar ulceration and management of foot oedema needing toe bandaging or garments. Wound healing was achieved in 72% of patients across all wound aetiologies, demonstrating the impact that a specialist MDT team can have on positive healing outcomes, and which can result in cost savings to the health economy and an improved quality of life for the patient.