Maureen Benbow, Pauline Beldon, Martyn Butcher, Heather Newton, Sylvie Hampton & Helena Baxter discuss a project which was set up to investigate the extent of use of topical negative pressure therapy in primary care settings in the UK in 2004. The objective of this part of the project was to systematically review the available literature up to December 2004.
The systematic review was conducted by a group of tissue viability experts. The key areas explored in the review included clinical, operational, communication, support and safety/liability/governance issues. The review of the literature found that the articles were noticeably lacking in information regarding the five key areas investigated. This would make it difficult for clinicians to initiate effective service provision based on what was found in the literature.
Maureen Benbow, Senior Lecturer, University of Chester.
Pauline Beldon, Tissue Viability Nurse Consultant, Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Martyn Butcher, Skin and Wound Care Service Manager/TVNS, Derriford Hospital Plymouth, Devon
Heather Newton, Nurse Consultant, Tissue Viability, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro, Cornwall.
Sylvie Hampton, Nurse Consultant Tissue Viability, Tissue Viability Consultancy Services
Helena Baxter, Service Development Manager, Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Cambridgeshire.
Article accepted for publication: February 2007