Accelerate working with ‘Wound Aware’ Government initiative
What is the ‘Wound Aware’ initiative?
“Wound Aware” is an initiative created by Public Health England (2021) ‘Wound aware: a resource for commissioners and providers of drug services’.
People who inject drugs (PWID) are at risk of serious and potentially life-threatening wounds and other tissue and blood vessel damage, because of what they inject and how they inject it.
Local areas can provide wound aware services through an integrated, multidisciplinary approach that looks at wound care, harm reduction, drug treatment and recovery, pain management and social circumstances.
Accelerate supporting the local team with education
We supported Ben and his non-clinical team working with the street homeless, by providing fundamental wound management training.
The team received education to provide wound care, advice, and signpost complex issues. They were informed of how to recognise infection and signpost the cohort to either a local general practice or attend accident and emergency.
In addition, staff were given practical training on how to clean and manage wounds in an on-site clinic, using selected dressings. The training was adapted from the ‘Wound Aware’ initiative.
How was the training?
Post training, Ben has reported empowerment in instigating conversations with street homeless. He has also provided us with evaluative data post intervention, that indicated that the team have improved confidence in fundamental wound management and knowledge.
They have worked within their boundaries for intervention, using appropriate escalation, and safety netting.
What about dressings?
Getting the right dressing for the indivual wound can be a real headache. Ben and the team were therefore also introduced to our Dressings Optimisation Scheme (DOS), ‘Click!’ to obtain the right dressings at the right time.
They have used the Click! system and found it hugely beneficial that dressings arrive in a timely manner for treating their challenging cohort of patients and that they are easily able to track their spend and dressing usage.
We have continued to support them with queries and concerns when required. Development of this partnership approach to wound care has encapsulated the public health ‘Wound Aware’ initiative, through the provision of localised, integrated care.