National Stop the Pressure programme: one year on
Pressure ulcers are an avoidable and costly harm. We are working to create a significant culture shift and eliminate avoidable pressure ulcers in acute, community and mental health provider settings.
In the NHS in England from April 2015 to the end of March 2016, 24,674 patients were reported to have developed a new pressure ulcer (according to NHS Digital) while the average length of stay in hospital for patients with pressure ulcers is 25 days. Furthermore, progress on improving this situation has stalled since 2015, despite the work that has been done.
We outline the common themes from the progress made by the 172 trusts that submitted their improvement plans this year, both across the regions and in their partnership-work across health and social care settings. We also signpost areas for more exploration, alongside the work of our national programme.