Holistic treatment of pressure ulcers in community settings

Around 700,000 people in the UK are living with pressure ulcers and each year 180,000 people acquire pressure ulcers.¹ Many people are still living with these wounds a year later. This article explores the reasons why pressure ulcers fail to heal and urges a holistic approach to management and treatment of pressure ulcers.

A pressure ulcer is defined as: ‘A localised injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue usually over a bony prominence, as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear. A number of contributing or confounding factors are also associated with pressure ulcers; the significance of these factors is yet to be elucidated.’²