In a first for NHS Highland, we are launching an educational video on "How to Prevent Pressure Ulcers," available with British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation in support of Stop the Pressure Day on November 21.
Led by our Lead Tissue Viability Nurse, Stacey Evans-Charles, this initiative aims to provide essential information on preventing pressure ulcers; also known as bed sores, pressure sores, or pressure injuries, to patients, families, and carers.
Treating pressure ulcers comes at considerable expense to the NHS, costing over £1.4 million daily to treat (Guest et al., 2017).
More importantly, the human cost is even higher. Pressure ulcers can lead to severe pain, reduced mobility, social isolation, longer hospital stays, and potentially life-threatening complications such as sepsis, and in some cases, even death.
The video outlines how to recognise the causes of pressure ulcers and what steps can be taken to help prevent them.
“As this year’s theme is ‘inclusivity,’ I wanted to ensure this important information is accessible to everyone, including the deaf community,” said Stacey Evans-Charles.
“Pressure ulcers can significantly impact a patient's quality of life, but they are preventable. We are pleased to offer this resource in BSL to support better understanding and care.”
She added: “I’d be very grateful for feedback on what people think of this resource and whether they have found it useful. Please get in touch if you have any comments stacey.evans-charles2@nhs.scot ”