Tissue Viability

Skip to main content Skip to footer Accessibility help

The Tissue Viability service provides specialist advice and support to healthcare professionals who are managing complex wounds within the community of Oxfordshire.

The nurse-led team works in partnership with patients, their carers and healthcare professionals to provide expert wound care advice, specialist healthcare equipment and education that is aimed at preventing needless skin breakdown.

The team aims to improve and support high standards of practice through clinical consultations, regular audits, development of guidelines and polices and by delivering formal educational training to healthcare professionals.

Tissue_Visbility_Service leaflet

You can contact the Tissue Viability Service by telephone, fax, email or post, Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.30pm.

We are based in the Admin building at Abingdon Community Hospital and our address is:

Tissue Viability
Administration Building
Abingdon Community Hospital
Marcham Road
Abingdon.
OX14 1AG

Phone: 01865 904959 or 904271

Messages can be left on our answerphones.

Fax: 01865 261757

Email: tissueviability@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk for clinicians using Oxford Health email

Or tissueviabilityadmin@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk for referral forms from Oxford Health email

Or oxfordhealth.tissueviability@nhs.net for clinicians using nhs.net email

Emails sent from Oxford Health to Oxford Health addresses are secure and can include patient details. Likewise, nhs.net to nhs.net emails. Please do not send confidential information between Oxford Health and nhs.net accounts as this is not secure.

Seeking Advice from the Tissue Viability Team
Step 1. If you have a general query about dressings, treatment pathways, equipment provision etc, there is a wealth of information on this website which is designed to help you with your clinical decision making.

Step 2. If the information you need is not here, contact your Tissue Viability Resource Nurse (ReN), or a more experienced colleague. ReNs have had additional training from the TV team and so may be able to advise you.

Step 3. If your query cannot be answered by the above, you should email the TV team. When your email is delivered to the TV team inbox, you will receive an ‘out of office’ reply that states the email has been received. If you do not get this, the email has not arrived and therefore, you should resend it.

Step 4. If you are with the patient and discover something serious that needs immediate advice and guidance, or there is a sudden deterioration in a patient you have emailed about you should ring the team administrator on 01865 904959/ 904271. Please do not ring in with routine queries; you will be redirected to our email service.

Step 5. Tissue Viability Referral – This should be submitted when the plan of care that has been implemented following the assessment, is not progressing as expected. This form includes referrals for complex wounds, chronic oedema, skin problems and pressure damage problems associated with seating and posture. You should only complete the section(s) that apply to your patient. If requesting equipment, you will need to complete a separate equipment request form.

Patients can be referred by their GP, community nurse or any other health care professional.

We do not accept referrals from patients directly. Referrals for advice on wound care should be made using the tissue viability referral form. The Tissue Viability Service referral process guidance and TV referral pathway guides will help you identify when and how to refer to us.

Referrals for equipment should be made using the equipment request form.

Referral forms should NO LONGER be faxed to the team but should instead be emailed to our referrals email address: tissueviabilityadmin@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk for staff with Oxford health emails, and oxfordhealth.tissueviability@nhs.net for staff with nhs.net email.

All referrals should accompanied by a medical summary printout and digital photographs of the wounds.

Identifying the correct piece of equipment for a patient can be complex. The Tissue Viability Team deals with advice and guidance for clinicians regarding equipment for tissue viability purposes only. Equipment required for functional or health reasons are not sourced through our team. Refer to an occupational therapist for functional need or contact the nursing staff for a health need.

The following guidance documents are provided to assist clinicians in decisions around the provision of equipment.

Guidance on Prescribing Equipment

Once supplied, it’s important that equipment is set up correctly. Many pieces of equipment will be set up by Millbrook on delivery. It is the prescriber’s responsibility to make sure they are correctly set up and are regularly checked to monitor this. The following guides may be helpful:

If you require any further help please do contact our equipment nurse on 01865 904003.

Advice sheets for a power cut

Before supplying a piece of powered equipment consideration should be made of the impact a power cut would have if the equipment was in use. Please consult the following documents to aid decision making:

The following leaflets provide advice on particular pieces of equipment and action to be taken in the event of a power cut:

We offer a comprehensive programme of training courses which are free for Oxford Health staff. These courses are also open to other staff groups such as practice nurses and nurses working within nursing homes but incur a charge. Please email us for further information.

The following courses are offered:

Wound assessment and management
Pressure ulcer prevention, management and equipment awareness
Fundamentals of leg ulcer management
Chronic oedema study day
Tissue viability skills day
Hosiery workshop

As a result of the Covid-19 outbreak we have had to suspend our 2020 training programme. We are in the process of designing a new training programme using a combination of virtual training via Microsoft Teams and local, small group practical training sessions for compression bandaging and undertaking doppler assessments. Further details to follow.

Wound assessment and management

This one day course is aimed at all clinicians involved in wound care, both registered and non-registered nurses. The morning session focuses on the importance of assessment in helping clinicians diagnose wound related problems to enable them to plan an effective programme of care. The afternoon session will focus on how you actively manage a wound and wound related problems such as skin care. Clinicians will be guided on how to set realistic and achievable objectives with their patients to gain optimum clinical outcomes. Learning is consolidated through case studies the development of holistic management plans.

(Maximum of 30 places per session)

Pressure ulcer prevention, management and equipment awareness

This course is aimed at all clinicians, both registered and non-registered, working with patients. The core aims and objectives of the session are for clinicians to receive the knowledge and skills to be able to:

Recognise the risk factors associated with pressure damage
Demonstrate competence in undertaking an accurate risk assessment using the BRADEN tool
Take the appropriate action to help prevent or reduce the risk
Develop holistic care plans in the prevention and management of pressure damage
Understand the role equipment plays in pressure damage prevention and how equipment as part of a management plan can assist in healing pressure damage
To assist Clinicians understand the different types of equipment available and how to order equipment efficiently as per local guidelines
To assist clinicians to understand risks associated with equipment and how to reduce them

(Maximum of 30 places per session)

E-learning

A pressure ulcer prevention e-learning course is available via this link

Fundamentals of leg ulcer management

It is recommended that you attend the Wound Assessment and Management study day before the FLUM days as wound management, measurement and dressing selection is not covered in any detail.

This is a 2 day course and it is recommended you attend both days.

Day 1
This whole day session offers clinicians an insight into the aetiology of leg ulcers (why they occur) and how assessment is fundamental to gaining a correct diagnosis. There will be a significant focus on why leg ulcers fail to progress, how you can recognise this and the benefits of applying an evidence based treatment pathway in order to improve healing outcomes. . Through various workshops and group work, clinicians will be given the knowledge and skills to be able to develop a leg ulcer management plan that is optimum for their patients’ needs.

Day 2
The morning session will focus on Doppler ultrasound as a means of establishing leg ulcer aetiology. Clinicians will be given a short theoretical presentation followed by a practical session where tissue viability nurses will be available to offer guidance and support.

The afternoon focuses on bandaging, where clinicians will have plenty of opportunity to practice the application of the bandage systems currently in use. Representatives from the companies who manufacture the bandages will be on hand to teach and support this practical skill.
This course is aimed at all clinicians involved in the management of patients with leg ulceration and includes both registered and non-registered nurses.
(Max of 30 places per session)

Chronic oedema study day

This one-day course is open to all clinicians involved in the management of chronic oedema, both registered and non-registered. It covers the causes, diagnosis and management of this complex condition and relates specifically to chronic oedema of the lower limbs. We address the challenges nurses face in trying to manage the symptoms of chronic oedema/ lymphoedema and the trainer offers practical skills that will support nurses out in practice. You will be given the opportunity to develop full leg chronic oedema bandaging skills.

(Maximum of 30 places per session)

Tissue viability skills day

Nurses will have the opportunity to rotate round a number of work stations that will offer practical advice and support on how to develop specific skills. These may include a variety of the following:

Wound assessment/ leg ulcer assessment
Assessing wound bed tissue
Pressure ulcer risk assessment
Setting up pressure relieving equipment
Wound measurement – tracing and calculating wound size
Wound dressing selection and tips for using dressings on difficult anatomical sites
Identifying local wound bed infection
Bandaging – applying K two and Actico
Bandaging the limb with chronic oedema– how to shape the limb properly
Measuring and applying compression hosiery – Hot tips for easy application!
VAC therapy
Doppler assessment

Information about the formulary will also be available and companies manufacturing the products that support formulary will be on site to advise clinicians on the correct use of their dressings. Clinicians are encouraged to visit the product exhibition.

(maximum places 100)

Hosiery workshop

Currently in Oxfordshire, approximately 40% of healed patients develop leg ulceration again and most are found not to be wearing compression hosiery at the time despite it being the gold standard treatment for preventing recurrence. In addition to this, many people are at risk of developing leg ulceration due to underlying venous disease and leg oedema. This risk could be reduced if compression hosiery was worn.

Assessing and choosing hosiery doesn’t have to be the minefield that many clinicians think it is…

Join us at one of our informative and interactive workshops where you will learn how to:

Carry out an assessment for hosiery
Select the most appropriate garment for your patient’s condition
Measure the limb correctly to ensure there is an accurate fit
Apply the hosiery correctly
Care for the hosiery correctly and be able to advise the patient on long term prevention management.

Workshops are four hours long. Please come prepared to participate in a practical session which will involve limb measurement and hosiery application on each other.

Tea/ Coffee will be provided. Please feel free to bring your lunch with you.

(Maximum of 30 places per session)

ROHO and Starlock training

Tissue Viability no longer runs training sessions for the setup of ROHO cushions. If you or your service require training in how to set up ROHO or Starlock cushions please contact the relevant company to arrange this within your cluster, locality or team.

For ROHO cushions contact the PERMOBIL representative:
Chris Morris
07841020581
chris.shine@permobil.com
Customer Services: 01484 722 888

For Starlock cushions please contact the Helping Hands representative:
Mitch Preedy
Email: mpreedy@helpinghand.co.uk
Mob: 07774621073
Office: 01531 635678

TV Competencies

Please use the links below to access the NICE and Oxford Health Guidance for the prevention and management of pressure damage:

Conditions and treatment

Assessment is the foundation of all clinical practice; without a robust holistic assessment it is difficult to achieve a clear management plan. This section provides information and tools to aid clinicians in clinical practice and to support them to develop clear and achievable management plans.

The following guidelines are available to assist clinicians:

Wound assessment & management

We advocate the use of TIME principles to provide a systematic approach to the assessment and management of wounds. TIME is based on assessment and intervention in four clinical areas with the aim of producing a well vascularised wound bed that facilitates the effectiveness of other therapeutic measures.

The objectives underpinning TIME are:

T – Tissue – assess for and treat any non-viable or deficient tissue
I – Infection or Inflammation – identify and treat
M– Moisture Imbalance – restore balance
E – Epidermal Margin non advancing or undermined – identify and optimize wound edges

This framework should be used in addition to obtaining a complete and in-depth medical history and discussion with the patient (and relatives/NOK if appropriate). Regular assessment and review of wound surface area, depth and undermining are also crucial when formulating a management plan. Wound photography is an invaluable tool to monitor progress or deterioration in the wound. Wound photography and mapping are both also fantastic tools in encouraging active participation with patients and can provide a real boost to patient morale.

The following tools and documents are available to assist clinicians and can be found under the resources Tab:

Abbey pain scale progress sheet
AMBLE Tool – Assessment/management of bacterial loading in wounds
Calculating wound surface area/size reduction
Leg ulcer assessment form
Lower limb assessment form
Pain assessment and management leaflet
Pathway for the treatment of skin that is damaged and excoriated by moisture
Potassium Permanganate Procedure
Protocol for the use of Topical Steroids in Wound Care
Removal of foam dressings
Wound assessment and evaluation form
Wound healing pathway/risk tool

Oxfordshire Wound Management Formulary

It is important that within the NHS we are able to justify our clinical decisions and expenditure on wound management products. In Oxfordshire we currently spend £1.8 million annually on dressings, bandages and tapes; therefore the wound management formulary has been developed with the explicit aims of:

Promoting evidence based practice by providing a framework within which it is safe to practice
Promoting continuity of care
Promoting rational prescribing
Encouraging safe, effective and appropriate use of dressings
Promoting cost effectiveness

Product selection should be based upon a comprehensive and holistic assessment of the patient and their wound. Once the wound aetiology and the intended treatment outcome have been confirmed, an appropriate product can be selected. If a patients wound fails to progress as expected then a referral to tissue viability should be considered.

VAC therapy

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is the use of controlled suction to promote healing. ‘VAC’ is often used generically to denote NPWT, and means ‘Vacuum assisted closure.’ NPWT is helpful for promoting healing in circumstances where tissue perfusion is compromised, and also in some cases where excessive exudate cannot be controlled by other means.

NPWT involves applying a suction force (i.e. vacuum) across a sealed wound, using a reticulated foam interface or specified types of gauze. Both the suction effect and the mechanical forces generated at the interface with the wound lead to a variety of changes in the wound, positively influencing the healing process.

Please follow the links below for further information and guidance.

Pressure ulcers are caused when an area of skin and the tissues below are damaged as a result of being placed under pressure sufficient to impair its blood supply. The European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel defines them as:

“An area of localised damage to the skin and underlying tissue caused by pressure, shear, friction and/or a combination of these.” (EPUAP, 1999)

Typically they occur in a person confined to bed or a chair by an illness and as a result they are sometimes referred to as ‘bedsores’, or ‘pressure sores’. All patients are potentially at risk of developing a pressure ulcer. However, they are more likely to in people who are seriously ill, have a neurological condition, impaired mobility, impaired nutrition, or poor posture or a deformity (NICE, 2014).

Prevention and management

Pressure ulcers present a major health care challenge. It has been recognized that pressure ulcers place a huge financial burden on the health care system and additionally result in a poor quality of life for the patient with an increased risk of morbidity. It is also known that many pressure ulcers are avoidable.

Efforts to reduce occurrence of pressure ulcers need to focus on prevention rather than cure. If we are to manage rates of pressure ulceration best practice needs to be employed by the use of guidelines, educational support and provision of appropriate equipment.

Braden tool

Nice guidance (2104) recommends using a validated scale to support clinical judgement when assessing pressure ulcer risk. Oxford Health has adopted the Braden tool as its pressure ulcer risk tool as it proven to provide higher inter-rater reliability and consistency of patient risk assessment.

An assessment of pressure ulcer risk for adults being admitted to secondary care or care homes in which NHS care is provided or receiving NHS care in other settings (such as primary and community care and emergency departments) should be undertaken on admission, or on the 1^st visit in the community setting (NICE, 2014)

Resources

The following documents are available to clinicians to assist in pressure ulcer prevention and management:

Other documents found elsewhere on this site that may be useful include:

Oxford Health Pressure Area Care Leaflet
Oxfordshire Community Pressure Relieving Equipment Leaflet
Pressure ulcer management competency
Pressure damage prevention competency
Role of dietary factors in TV and wound Healing
Small appetite leaflet
Skin Inspection – Guidance & Form
SCALE Guidance
SCALE Final Consensus Statement 2009

A leg ulcer is defined as ‘the loss of skin from the knee to the ankle, which takes more than 6 weeks to heal’. There are several reasons why people get leg ulcers, the most common one (approx. 60 – 80%) being due to venous insufficiency arising from faulty valves in the veins and/ or poor calf muscle pump action. A smaller percentage of ulcers (10 – 20%) are caused by poor circulation in the arteries or as a result of other diseases such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.

It is estimated that approximately 1% of the population in the United Kingdom will suffer from leg ulceration at some point in their lives with the experience often impacting negatively on their quality of life. Without correct treatment, ulcers can remain unhealed for many months or sometimes years, resulting in episodes of infection, pain and immobility.

To improve the healing rates of venous leg ulcers in Oxfordshire a venous leg ulcer treatment pathway has been introduced (click on venous leg ulcer pathway tab) which supports evidence based practice and has contributed to more ulcers being healed within 24 weeks. All clinicians delivering leg ulcer care are expected to use this pathway.

The resources found within this site will assist nurses with their clinical decision making when managing a patient with a leg ulcer.

Please see the following guidelines for further information:

Venous Leg Ulcer Pathway

In 2012, In order to optimise the healing potential of venous leg ulcers, two treatment pathways were designed and then piloted in clinical settings across Oxfordshire. These pathways are evidence based and focus on good wound bed preparation, managing infection, correct application of compression, monitoring of progress over 6 weekly periods and timely referral to a specialist if the ulcers fail to improve. The pilot proved that more ulcers heal within 24 weeks when a treatment pathway is implemented.

The pathways have now been implemented across all care settings within the community with an expectation that all clinicians providing leg ulcer care should be using this best practice model. The guidance on allocating a patient to a venous leg ulcer pathway should be viewed first in order to ensure the correct treatment is delivered.

Further supporting documentation can be found under the RESOURCES Tab on the homepage.

District nursing teams use a Patient Status at a Glance board to monitor progress of patients on the pathways.

Mixed Aetiology Pathway

Chronic Oedema Pathway

Chronic oedema is an umbrella term for swelling that does not respond to elevation or diuretics and which has been present for three months or more. It can occur in the limbs and/or the trunk, head and neck or genitalia. There are a number of possible causes including;

Dependency’ oedema: associated with immobility
Venous oedema: e.g. resulting from venous disease such

as post-thrombotic syndrome or severe varicose veins

Oedema associated with obesity
Lymphoedema: primary and secondary
Oedema related to advanced cancer
Oedema due to heart failure

Left untreated chronic oedema of the lower limbs can progress and cause skin changes such as discolouration, eczema, dry skin plaques and hardening of the tissues. The risk of developing leg ulcers increases as the tissues become more vulnerable to injury and wounds fail to heal properly. The tissues become prone to infection and can require hospital admission. In the advanced stages the limbs change shape developing skin folds with hard cobblestone skin. They can begin to leak fluid profusely as the skin is unable to contain the fluid.

Chronic oedema can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. It is also costly to the health service in terms of time, resources and staffing. The key to managing chronic oedema is early intervention to prevent disease progression. The main interventions include compression therapy, skin care, exercise and elevation. Managing chronic oedema complicated with ulceration, lymphorrhoea (leaky legs) or infection can prove a challenge. However, with appropriate management strategies, these factors can be reduced.

Chronic Oedema Pathway

Compression therapy

Correctly applied compression therapy is recognised as the mainstay of treatment for both the preventative and therapeutic care of venous disease, with high compression bandaging now established as the treatment of choice for venous leg ulceration. Compression therapy is mainly delivered through the application of bandaging or compression hosiery.

Compression therapy aims to reverse the effects of venous hypertension by:

Decreasing the capacity of and pressure within the superficial veins
Assisting venous return by increasing the blood flow velocity in the deep veins
Reducing oedema and subsequent wound exudate levels
Minimising or reversing skin changes that impact on wound healing.

Compression therapy should not be applied before the arterial status of the limb has been established (Doppler test) and should be applied in line with local policy and guidelines.

Please refer to the following Hosiery Booklet and Hosiery Formulary for guidance on the selection and application of compression hosiery in Oxfordshire:

We have developed and made available a range of documents and guidelines to assist and inform clinicians within Oxfordshire.

Leaflets

The following leaflets are designed to inform patients and staff alike and are a useful accompaniment to joint care planning and patient education:

Blank documentation

TV leg ulcer care plans

Useful literature and guidelines

Training presentations

Below are links to a selection of power point presentations form the various study days we run. Although we try and keep them as up to date as possible we do tend to make regular changes base on feedback we receive. You may find parts of the presentation differ slightly from the one you received but it shouldn’t be by much.

Wound Assessment and Management

Fundamentals of leg ulcer management

Chronic Oedema

Pressure Damage Prevention and Management

Hosiery workshop