Despite recent announcement by the government that the NHS is safe from further budget cuts, there is still a responsibility to streamline purchasing within the NHS. This has resulted in wound care specialists using investigative methods, including prevalence studies, to address how their specific institution can reduce costs without having a negative impact on their patients. East Lancashire NHS Hospitals Trust has looked into how implementing a wound care formulary and having ActivHeal® (Advanced Medical Solutions) as a first-line dressing range can have a positive effect on dressing choice, education and wound care spend.