Pressure care: prevention is better than a cure

Abstract

418 British Journal of Healthcare Management 2013 Vol 19 No 9 © 2 01 3 M A H ea lth ca re L td components of a successful approach that can be adopted across all NHS trusts. Staff emphasised that highquality patient care is the overarching goal when reducing pressure care injuries. This can be achieved in several ways; prevention, innovation and collaboration. Pressure ulcer prevention is better than cure. Early intervention with proven, clinically effective equipment is absolutely vital as it can take only minutes for an at-risk patient to develop a pressure ulcer. Case studies have demonstrated that using innovative equipment for pressure area care can result in health service efficiencies, reduced incidence and cost savings into the hundreds of thousands of pounds for NHS trusts. Moving beyond prevention, innovation and collaboration have key roles to play in this area and it is time for suppliers to work more closely— and in a different way—with the NHS. Challenging economic times often inspire new ways of working, and there is a real opportunity for new types of industry partnership models designed to deliver tangible change. Creative thinking and procurement can enable trusts to benefit not only from cutting-edge pressure care technology, but also from the savings that can result from new ways of working. For example, ‘partnership design’ models, whereby suppliers and purchasers join together to design and sell products, is an effective way to generate revenue for NHS trusts. While this represents a radical departure from the traditional model, by combining suppliers’ technical know-how with clinical expertise, effective partnerships can improve patient care and build cost savings. The long-term outcome of developing more innovative partnerships will be that trusts can deliver the clinical outcomes necessary to effect real change; reducing the number of reported pressure injury cases, saving millions of pounds and freeing up beds. To achieve this, the NHS needs to explore new ways of working with suppliers. Carrying out an internal assessment of current methods and costs may encourage them to review alternative ways of managing pressure area care. Engaging those on the front line is crucial, and discussions with tissue viability nurses and other relevant staff members can help inform innovative strategies. With the NHS facing some of the biggest economic challenges in its 65-year history, embracing a fresh approach and new ways of working with its supplier base will be absolutely fundamental if we are to achieve the step change required to make it a sustainable service fit for future generations. BJHCM Graham Ewart, medical device specialist, argues that partnerships between the NHS and suppliers will become vital in easing the financial burden posed by pressure care to NHS trusts Pressure care: prevention is better than a cure