Prevent Bed Sores on Stop the Pressure Day

On Thursday 15 November 2018, staff from Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) will be raising awareness of pressure ulcers or bedsores at various sites throughout Essex.

Stop the Pressure heroes will be at Hockley Clinic, Thundersley Clinic, Canvey Primary Care Centre, Rochford Hospital, Leigh Primary Care Centre and Cumberlege Intermediate Care Centre (09:00 – 17:00hrs).

Pressure ulcers are injuries to the skin and underlying tissue, primarily caused by prolonged pressure on the skin. They can happen to anyone, but usually affect people confined to bed or who sit in a chair or wheelchair for long periods of time.

Tissue Viability Nurses will distribute educational materials to staff and patients to raise awareness of pressure ulcers or bedsores and how they can be prevented.

Pressure ulcers are preventable. When they occur they can have significant psychological, physical and clinical difficulties for patients, carers and their families. They are generally considered to be the most expensive chronic wound.

• 700,000 people are affected by pressures ulcers each year;
• 3.8million is spent every day – NHS;
• Pressure ulcers remain a challenge for the patients who develop them and the healthcare professionals involved in their prevention and management;

Despite extensive prevention programmes and campaigns, evidence suggests that about 1,700 - 2,000 patients a month develop pressure ulcers.

Members of the public, carers and health care assistants are encouraged to visit the Stop the Pressure stands at the sites listed above for information, advice and training.

A team of specialist nurses will also give away yummy stop the pressure cupcakes to those who visit their information stands.

The awareness event takes place on:

Date: Thursday 15 November, 2018
When: 09:00-17:00
Where: Multiple sites: Hockley Clinic, Thundersley Clinic, Canvey Primary Care Centre, Rochford Hospital, Leigh Primary Care Centre and Cumberlege Intermediate, Southend.