Winter Pressures on the NHS: Preventing Pressure Ulcers Amidst Rising Demand

Winter is traditionally one of the most challenging times for the NHS. Seasonal illnesses, adverse weather, and increased hospital admissions place immense pressure on healthcare services. This year, these challenges are exacerbated by extended ambulance handover delays, prolonged trolley waits in A&E departments, and a significant rise in flu cases. For vulnerable patients, especially the elderly and immobile, these delays substantially increase the risk of developing pressure ulcers—a preventable yet serious healthcare issue.

The Impact of Winter on Patient Care

During winter, healthcare providers face unprecedented demand, often exceeding bed capacity. Despite the tireless efforts of staff, prolonged immobility caused by handover delays and overwhelmed A&E departments heightens the risk of pressure ulcers for frail or immobile patients, as well as those with existing health conditions.

Pressure ulcers, or bedsores, can develop within hours when patients remain in one position for too long. If left untreated, they can lead to infections, severe pain, and prolonged hospital stays, further straining NHS resources and delaying recovery for affected patients.

Frontier Medical Group: Innovative Pressure Area Care Solutions

To combat this growing concern, Frontier Medical Group provides a comprehensive range of pressure area care (PAC) solutions designed for the effective prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. Our innovative products prioritise pressure redistribution, patient comfort, dignity, and ease of use for healthcare professionals, making them particularly valuable during extended waits in A&E departments and during ambulance handover delays.

Proactive Prevention: A Collaborative Approach

Preventing pressure ulcers during winter requires a proactive and collaborative effort across healthcare settings. Key strategies include:

1.          Early Risk Assessment: Identifying at-risk patients upon admission to A&E or during ambulance handovers. 

2.          Frequent Repositioning: Regularly repositioning patients to relieve pressure on vulnerable areas.

3.          Pressure Redistribution Devices: Incorporating an effective pressure area care solution to protect patients during extended handovers and long trolley waits.

4.          Staff Training: Ensuring healthcare professionals are equipped with the knowledge and skills to prevent and manage pressure ulcers effectively.

An Effective Pressure Area Care Solution

The Repose Companion range offers a suite of innovative PAC devices, including the Repose Companion, Repose Trolley Companion, and Repose Ambulance Companion. These solutions are specifically designed to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) through highly effective pressure redistribution and reduction support surfaces. 

Repose Companion and Repose Trolley Companion

The Repose Companion and Repose Trolley Companion are innovative PAC overlays designed to move seamlessly with the patient, providing effective pressure redistribution and enabling safer lateral transfers—eliminating the need to move patients between surfaces. These cost-effective solutions are compatible with existing A&E trolleys and address the inconsistency of support surfaces encountered during a patient’s journey from admission to discharge, ensuring reliable pressure care in busy emergency departments.

Repose Ambulance Companion

This PAC overlay is particularly valuable during ambulance handovers and extended trolley waits. It enhances patient comfort and dignity while reducing the risk of HAPUs. Securely attachable to ambulance stretchers or patient trolleys, the Repose Ambulance Companion supports vulnerable patients and helps healthcare professionals deliver improved care.

Supporting the NHS Through Winter

Frontier Medical Group is dedicated to supporting the NHS during this crucial time by offering innovative, cost-effective solutions that enhance patient outcomes and reduce the risk of pressure ulcers. By combining pressure area care strategies with clinically effective support surfaces, healthcare providers can enhance patient comfort, reduce hospital stays, and alleviate some of the burden on overstretched services.

As the NHS continues to face extraordinary challenges this winter, pressure ulcer prevention is essential, particularly during ambulance handover delays and prolonged trolley waits. Frontier Medical Group’s Repose range allows healthcare providers to ensure patients are protected, comfortable, and supported on their journey to recovery.