Elaine has had a wide and varied career in Nursing within and out with the NHS over the past 29 years which has given her the diversity of skills and knowledge to develop a Tissue Viability service across Highland and support staff and patients in all aspects of wound management. 

Ensuring delivery of a safe, effective practice that offers advanced clinical support that is focused on anticipatory care, self-management and prevention has been a key focus since taking up post 4 and a half years ago.  

She is passionate about the speciality and the potential it has for improving patient and organisational outcomes.

Presentations at The Society of Tissue Viability 2022 Conference

Multi agency: reducing PU in care homes in the Highlands

Objectives

After attending this session, persons will be able to:

• Identify who is at risk of pressure ulceration in Care Homes
• Appreciate the importance of multi agency collaboration to reduce pressure ulcer prevalence.
• Use appropriate risk assessment tools safely
• Understand the Red Day Review Tool in assessing avoidability of pressure ulcers
• Understand the governance and responsibility of reporting incidents of pressure ulceration

Abstract

Pressure Ulcers are an unwanted and often avoidable complication of illness, immobility and frailty. Older people in care homes are amongst the most vulnerable and at very high risk of developing pressure ulcers. It is a highly litigious area within healthcare and the associated governance requires a collaborative approach to improve processes of prevention and improve outcomes for this group of people.

With this in mind and with the implementation of a new Care Home Liaison Service within Highland, the capacity and need to improve PU standards and reduce prevalence was prioritised.

This demanded multi agency Partnership involving the Care Home sector, Care Home Lead Nurse, NHSH Tissue Viability Services and Community Nursing services. The overarching aim was to collate prevalence data, improve risk assessment processes and recording of pressure ulcers and utilise assessment Tools such as Red Day Review Tools to assess avoidibility of damage.

How to run a successful wound care service using digital imagery and virtual e-clinic tissue viability support

Objectives

After attending this session, persons will be able to:

• Appreciate the challenges of delivering a Tissue Viability Service across a remote locality
• Understand the role that digital technology has in delivery of a safe and effective TV Service in NHS Grampian and the remote Scottish Isles
• Have an understanding of managing a Tissue Viability e-clinic to meet clinical demands across a geographically and demographically challenging environment

Abstract

NHS Highland and NHS Grampian have very similar Geography and demographics. The total population of these regions are 865,480 with a land mass of 36809.72KM².

The challenges to deliver a specialist service across these areas in a timely and effective manner were recognised in 2008 where the concept of using digital cameras and a virtual e-clinic was conceived.

This service remains a pivotal platform for referrals and wound management in NHS Highland and NHS Grampian.

Duty of Candour in wound care / pressure ulcer incidents

Objectives

After attending this session, persons will be able to:

• Understand the DoC review process
• Recognise potential DoC scenarios in relation to pressure ulcers
• Understand Professional and Organisational responsibilities regarding DoC
• Gather relevant Information Red Day Review and Datix
• Reflect and learn from adverse events

Abstract

Every healthcare professional must be open and honest with patients when something that goes wrong with their treatment or care causes, or has the potential to cause, harm or distress. We will discuss the process of how to review the environment.

The method of collecting the valid information for your Datix/incident report and the process of communication and learning from adverse events. We will define The Duty of Candour when pressure damage occurs and this triggers this legislation.