This Best Practice Statement (BPS) is an update of the Best Practice Statement: Holistic management of venous leg ulceration (Wounds UK, 2016). The guidance considers the National Wound Care Strategy Programme (NWCSP, 2020) Lower Limb Recommendations and updates the lower limb wound pathway (Atkin and Tickle, 2016; Wounds UK, 2016) to make it relevant for 2022 and beyond.
This document is for healthcare practitioners in all care settings who are treating patients with venous leg ulcers (VLUs). The aims of this BPS are to have a positive impact on patient outcomes, sustainability/economics and the community workforce, by:
- Supporting the practical implementation of the NWCSP recommendations
- Helping to ensure consistent clinical practices in relation to the assessment and management of people with VLUs
- Providing guidance on when to escalate and refer to specialist services.
It will provide clear guidance based on relevant evidence and the experiences and opinions of clinicians, with a focus on practical, holistic, and person-centred strategies.
This BPS also includes ‘Reflect and Be Bold’ statements, which aim to give clinicians the confidence to provide best standard of care for people with VLUs within their capabilities.
By following best practice that encompasses evidence-based holistic treatment of the wound and underlying patient comorbidities, the wound is more likely to heal.
