01/09/2005

Representatives from the Queen's Nursing Institute (QNI) will be paying a visit to West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust's award winning 'Look after your Legs' initiative at the Phoenix Community Centre, Matson on 6 September, 2005.

The 'Look after your Legs' project focuses on the problem of venous leg ulcers, which not only cause misery for thousands of older people and also some younger sufferers, but also cost the NHS an estimated £600 million nationally every year.

The condition has serious physical symptoms, but those behind the local initiative have also been concentrating on the psychological effects leg ulcers can have.

During their visit, representatives from the QNI will be given the opportunity to see the leg ulcer management clinic in action and the patient 'ambassador' led support group.

Many people have no family and few friends with whom to share the problem and so the 'patient ambassadors' scheme was developed with this in mind.

Ambassadors range in age from 70 upwards and play a key role in advising people across three areas of Gloucester on leg ulcer care and prevention. Importantly they have all suffered from the condition and can provide advice and help based on their own experiences.

The Bartongate District Nursing Team, who have developed the 'look after your legs' initiative in partnership with patients, carers, NHS colleagues as well as the voluntary and independent sectors, have also produced an excellent patient information leaflet - in the shape of a leg - which has received endorsement from the NHS locally.

Director of Clinical Development at West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust, Jan Marriott said:

"This is an impressive and exciting project that focuses on the key issues that lie behind improving practice - involving patients as experts and ensuring equality of access to care and treatment."

Anne Pearson, Professional Development Facilitator at Queen's Nursing Institute said:

"This is a truly innovative solution to one of the health services' most intractable problems - venous leg ulcers in older people."

"Most of the annual costs involved in the care of the condition are linked to nursing time. The use of patient ambassadors fulfils a social and clinical role. The work is a brilliant demonstration of patient involvement in service provision and we are very much looking forward to our visit to Gloucester on the 6th September."

During the visit, the representatives from the QNI will give a short talk on the history of community nursing and a local guest speaker will address the patient group.

Earlier this year, the 'Look after your Legs' initiative was awarded a national Queen's Nursing Institute Innovation and Creative Practice Award and received funding of nearly £6,000 to help the project develop further.