“Tissue viability is a growing speciality that primarily considers all aspects of skin and soft tissue wounds including acute surgical wounds, pressure ulcers and all forms of leg ulceration.” (Tissue Viability Society, 2009).
Our tissue viability team provides specialist evidence-based advice to all health care professionals, patients, families and carers. All patients are eligible for referral to our service, if registered with a GP in the geographical boundaries of Plymouth, South Hams & West Devon (Western CCG locality) and meet the referral criteria. We receive referrals from nursing homes, residential homes, district nursing teams, GP practices and other clinical settings within Livewell Southwest. We cover a wide variety of complex wounds including the pressure ulcer prevention and management, prevention and management of leg ulceration, lymphoedema – both primary and secondary – including patients with active ulceration, management of traumatic injuries, and complex non healing wounds.
We received a Certificate of Excellence in 2024 from iWantGreatCare, which was awarded in recognition of consistently outstanding patient feedback.
Tissue Viability Team
Hannah Blake, Tissue Viability Clinical Nurse Specialist, MSc Wound Healing and Tissue Repair
Emma Hannaford-Hill, Tissue Viability Sister
Bethany Money, Tissue Viability support nurse
Leanne Mallett, Tissue Viability Assistant Practitioner
Janay Wills. Lower Limb Specialist Nurse
Sunneva Coyne-Stacey, Lower Limb Specialist Nurse
Lower limb specialist service
Our Specialist Lower Limb Nurses work collaboratively with the district nursing teams to fulfil the National Wound Care Strategy’s aim of providing comprehensive lower limb assessment of housebound patients within 14 days of presentation of a lower limb wound. We aim to provide specialist care in the form of compression therapy to heal leg wounds as quickly as possible and to refer to onward services promptly where required.
The Tissue Viability team work closely with the Lower limb service which have clinics set up across the Plymouth and South Hams area. Every year we celebrate #LegsMatterWeek.
Collaborative working with other multidisciplinary services
We are proud to have strong relationships working closely with many multidisciplinary teams, sharing skills and knowledge to offer best practice to all of our patients. We link together with the continence team, district nurses, practice nurses and GPs, the lower limb team, nursing homes, residential homes, podiatry, vascular service, wheelchair services, lymphoedema team, Millbrook and NRS equipment services and multiple representatives from our formulary companies.
Pressure ulcer prevention
Within our tissue viability team we offer advice, education and clinical support for pressure ulcer prevention. We also carry out holistic assessments, assist clinical staff and patients with developing pressure ulcers across community settings.
Every year we celebrate #STOPTHEPRESSURE day, actively spreading the message for people to keep moving and how to avoid a pressure ulcer occurring.
We are currently working in partnership with the SEAMLESS project: Transforming Community Health project which builds on earlier work using pressure mapping equipment to monitor patients in community settings.
Leaflets
- Pressure ulcer prevention leaflet
- 30 degree tilt leaflet
- Knee break poster
- Correct elevated leg positioning poster
The SSKIN care bundle is a powerful tool as it defines and ties best practice together. The bundle also makes the actual process of preventing pressure ulcers visible to all. This minimises variations in care practices.
Skin tear pathway
Skin tears are a traumatic injury that can occur on any anatomical location. In the elderly they are often sustained on the extremities such as the upper and lower limb, and on the dorsal aspect of the hands. An initial assessment should include a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s wound and consider their age, past medical history, general health and potential for wound healing. Please see the leaflet below for the appropriate steps to be taken when treating a skin tear.
Education and training
Knowledge is a powerful resource and there is value in education for everyone involved in preventing pressure ulcers, management of leg ulcers and all aspects of wound healing.
To see what training we offer, please check the Livewell Southwest Academy website: www.livewellswacademy.co.uk
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Contact
Please call 01752 434757 to speak directly to the Tissue Viability team.