
One in 500 people in the UK live with a stoma. Up to 85% of ostomates have experienced common problems such as skin irritation, blockage, leakage, and difficulty attaching and removing appliances, but many do not seek professional help1. One study identified that approximately one third of patients with a stoma who were followed up over a 5-year study period had evidence of skin complications within 90 days of surgery2. This, in turn, leads to increased healthcare costs, increased product use, wastage and unnecessary referrals to specialist stoma services.
Read More >Spring is finally upon us and those of us who participate in sports events find ourselves emerging from what seems like a yearlong Covid hibernation. Groups are meeting up again, races that were postponed due to the pandemic have been rescheduled, training plans have been carefully prepared and we’re raring to get our Lycra clad bodies, with their few extra lockdown pounds, back out there. For some athletes though this means the return of toilet issues before and during a race.
Read More >Part of our Heroes Campaign. By Dr. Dan O’Carroll – A&E Consultant, Birmingham. As the first wave of the corona virus pandemic appears to be easing, it’s worth reflecting on what the NHS has managed to achieve in such a short space of time.
Read More >Over the past few months, we have seen an increase in queries on Peak Flow Meters from clinicians and healthcare professionals. This may be because, during the current Covid-19 pandemic, patients with asthma and other respiratory conditions are being increasingly managed via virtual or phone consultations and have had to take more responsibility for self-care and management of their condition.
Read More >Thursday 12th May is International Nurses' Day — a day to celebrate the incredible work nurses do all over the world, every day. From providing essential healthcare in times of crisis to supporting people through difficult life transitions, nurses make a huge impact on society.
Read More >It is estimated that 13,500 people have stoma surgery each year, which means around 1 in every 500 people have a stoma in the UK.1 Due to this high number of people, nurses in different clinical settings will see patients with a stoma. Therefore it is vital to develop a basic understanding of stoma care.
Read More >Part of our Heroes Campaign. By Dr. Nitin Raje-Ghatge – MD, DMLS, DFMS (London). I have come across a vast number of people with Mental Health & Addiction problems and how it affects not just the patients but also the people they live with.
Read More >We have all been challenged in delivering services in social and healthcare throughout the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK. The intense pressures on staffing and resources have also taken their toll on the provision of education.
Read More >It’s important for healthcare professionals and patients alike to be aware of moisture-associated skin damage (MASD). This can occur when the skin is exposed to moisture for long periods of time. That moisture can be from a great many sources (sweat, urine, saliva, wounds, etc) and can lead to a variety of problems like skin irritation, breakdown and infection.
Read More >What is MARSI? Medical adhesive-related skin injury (MARSI) occurs when medical adhesives remove superficial layers of skin, resulting in variable levels of skin damage, such as skin-stripping, tension blisters, skin tears, contact dermatitis.
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Wendy Stainrod, Pharmacy Technician from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
Laura Hallas Hoyes, Nurse Consultant from South West Yorkshire Partnership Trust (SWYPT)
Lyndsey Metcalf, Assistant Practitioner from Northern Care Organisation
Joanne Taylor, Tissue Viability Service Lead from Rochdale Care Organisation
"I was able to watch the presentation on moisture damage a few weeks ago and found out about the S.M.A.R.T cards I have since received mine and have shared the information with the community continence team. This is an easy to use and store (in my work bag) so I can share information with patients (where suitable) and primary care givers to ensure the most suitable products are being used for patients with moisture damage to prevent severe skin damage. I have not had to use it in this way yet but it is helpful to have as easy access."
Doreen White, Tissue Viability Support Nurse, Livewell South West, Plymouth.
Hazel Jeffery, Nurse Practitioner & TVN Link Nurse from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT)
"The introduction of S.M.A.R.T. has supported our nursing staff by providing a clear but straightforward tool to help them identify moisture-associated skin damage, establish the severity and manage it using an appropriate barrier product. For patients this support offers the benefit of early intervention in preventing and managing what can be a debilitating problem"
Pia Prince, Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist, University Hospitals Plymouth.
"Kerry is an integrated part of our training and without Kerry’s support patients would not be cared for by competent care staff that have a awareness of what to look for, how to care for or how to prevent moisture damage, which in turn has improved patient outcomes and reduced district nursing visits."
Natalie Mccarthy, Training and Education Coordinator from South West Yorkshire NHS Partnership trust
“The SMART card allows staff to be proactive in commencing the right treatment for their patients in promoting skin integrity. As it is on a wipe able card, staff can easily refer to it in their clinical area, thus avoiding any delays in starting the appropriate skin care regime.”
Annemarie Graf, TVN Specialist Nurse, UHBW NHS Foundation Trust (University Hospitals Bristol and Weston).
“We use the Medi Derma- S Film and Cream and the Medi Derma-PRO products and we've had some really good results on patient skin with using those. Medicareplus Intl. have supported us when we launched the products on 12 formularies and provided a lot of education to clinical staff both in the community and in the hospital.”
Debbie Houghton, Tissue Viability Nurse for South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.
Liz Lock, Wound Care Nurse from Barnsley CCG
Laura Cummings, Tissue Viability and Physical Health Nurse from Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Foundation NHS Trust (TEWV)
Louise Marshall, Community Nurse Practitioner from Gateshead NHS Trust
"The S.M.A.R.T. card is easy to use very clear and is a great reminder for which product to use and when."
Sandi Sherman, Care supervisor from Bluebird Care, Devon.
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