Resources

01 June 2023
Storytelling is the act of telling or writing stories, or narratives. Typically, stories are told for entertainment, for informational or educational purposes. Telling stories and storymaking is integral to our human consciousness and lived experience
01 June 2023
Here, Ellie Lindsay OBE explores why, with the increased use of virtual technology in health care, good communication skills are more vital than ever to ensure person-centred, holistic care.

The evolution of technology and electronic devices, such as smart phones, has greatly influenced the way we communicate today, improving the speed and ease of reaching out to others. But, the downside of the speed of, for example, a text messaging service, may be that individuals are no longer taking the time to converse in person and to be truly present — in mind and body.
01 June 2023
In December 2017, I started working at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals as one of two new community diabetes specialist nurses (CDSN). It was a new role working within an already specialist service implementing the diabetes model of seamless care. The role worked alongside primary care colleagues to review tier 2 and complex diabetes patients in GP surgeries at face-to-face appointments with the aim of reducing complications.
Topics:  My community
21 April 2023
Lymphoedema is a chronic, progressive condition, which can have a significant impact
on patients — both physically and psychologically. While there is no cure, it is vital that the condition is effectively managed to prevent deterioration and its impact on patient quality of life.
Topics:  Lymphoedema
21 April 2023
Research shows that there could be over 175,000 people in the UK with the genetic condition Lynch syndrome (National Institute for Health and Care [NICE], 2016). As healthcare professionals, it is vital to follow the evidence to determine who may be affected by Lynch syndrome in order that they can have appropriate screening to decrease their risk of bowel cancer and other related cancers. Those leads are largely found in two ways. First, through testing those with bowel cancer to see if they have Lynch syndrome so that their relatives can be tested to see if they have also inherited the condition, this is done in secondary care. The second way is through identifying individuals with what are termed ‘high risk’ family histories so that they can be tested for Lynch syndrome. This can be achieved in primary or secondary care.
Topics:  Viewpoints
21 April 2023
Wound management places a major demand on healthcare resources, which will continue to escalate with the increasing age and associated diseases of patients. But, that is no reason for inconsistent treatment, or treatment where the concerns and priorities of patients are not being addressed.

Of course, prevention and education need to be a priority, along with evidence-based wound treatments and research into developing existing pathways. However, patients also have rights and expectations that need to be considered. In our view, it is here where we have fallen down and where we continue to do so.
Topics:  Wound Care
21 April 2023
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a debilitating, lifelong condition which places significant
societal and economic burden on patients, caregivers and healthcare systems; the realities of living with SCD for both patients and caregivers significantly impact quality of life,
and include mental health issues, as well affecting ability to attend and be successful at school or work, therefore reducing earning potential (Sickle Cell Health Awareness,
Perspectives and Experiences (SHAPE) survey, 2022).
Topics:  Viewpoints
21 April 2023
This article, the first in a series on pressure ulcer prevention and management, looks
at undertaking risk assessment as the first step in preventing pressure damage. It
discusses the most popular tools in clinical practice, as well as how reliable they are in
predicting patient risk. Legal aspects of pressure ulcer risk assessment documentation
are also explored, together with future developments in producing a risk assessment
tool which can be used across all clinical settings in primary and secondary care.
Topics:  Risk assessment
21 April 2023
When patients present with red lower legs, the cause is often assumed to be cellulitis or erysipelas. There are, however, several alternative conditions which mimic the clinical signs of cellulitis or erysipelas, which can lead to misdiagnosis. It is important that the
cause is correctly diagnosed to prevent inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics. This article discusses the different potential causes of ‘red legs’, in addition to cellulitis and erysipelas, together with clinical signs and symptoms to enable community nurses to differentiate
between them and implement appropriate treatments. Systemic antibiotics may not be the most appropriate management, and with the current focus on reducing antibiotic usage, community nurses need to be confident that they are prescribing them appropriately
and safely, and only when required.
Topics:  Treatment
21 April 2023
The aim of this retrospective, real-world cohort analysis was to explore the clinical and financial benefits following the implementation of integrated care bundles (ICBs) within a real-world cohort of multiple wound types across two large community care facilities in Ontario, Canada. An observational, retrospective cohort analysis of the effectiveness and safety of a series of wound-specific ICBs, adopted to improve the management of open chronic wounds, was undertaken. Outcomes from patients who received a multilayered,
silicone adhesive foam dressing as part of their ICB were compared with outcomes from patients who did not receive the ICB. Patients who received the ICBs, including treatment with the foam dressing (n=16,841), experienced improved outcomes compared with those who did not receive the ICB (n=2242), including a faster time to healing (12.8 vs 25.5 weeks, respectively), and longer time between dressing changes (3.5 vs 1.9 days, respectively). Decreased mean nursing visits in the ICB cohort led directly to reduced resource costs, compared with mean per patient costs in the non-ICB cohort (CAD$1733 vs $6488, respectively). It was found that the reality of delivering evidence-based best practice that is optimally placed to deliver good outcomes can be challenging. However, the authors’ experience suggests that the adoption of pathways and ICBs may
make it easier to adopt best practice.
Topics:  Integrated care