UHNM wound care pathway nominated for Nursing Times Award

A University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM)- developed specialist pathway for managing complex lower limb wounds has been nominated for a Nursing Times Award.

The Lower Limbs Project, which provides early assessment and intervention for patients at risk of delayed healing, has been shortlisted in the Patient Safety Improvement category. 

Since its introduction, the new pathway has seen a 50 per-cent reduction in outpatient appointments.  

Stephanie Brown, advanced clinical practitioner for orthoplastic trauma and plastic surgery, said: “It’s very exciting that this project has been shortlisted for such a prestigious award. 

“The Lower Limb Project was introduced into the plastic surgery dressings clinic as we identified that patients with wounds on the lower limb were some of the most complex and challenging patients to heal.  An audit demonstrated that this cohort of patients had the most outpatient appointments per individual, so we wanted to look at ways to improve this.
 
The Expert Lower Limb group were consulted, and a new pathway was developed whereby patients with or at risk of delayed wound healing would be referred into a specialist clinic for assessment and early intervention with compression bandaging. Best practice guidelines from the National Wound Care Strategy for Lower Limbs and existing inpatient and community pathways were adopted and adapted to suit the needs of our patient group. 

“During the pilot study we achieved a 50 per-cent reduction in outpatient clinic appointments, with improved rates of healing and earlier discharge to community providers.  On the back of this success, the pathway has been further adapted to suit the needs of orthopaedic patients who have undergone lower limb reconstruction following trauma, who often go on to suffer lifelong complications as a result of these injuries.  This year we have treated 30 patients within this cohort with fantastic outcomes which include surgery avoidance, improved rehabilitation, improved pain and improved healing rates. 

“In collaboration with key stakeholders our aim is to improve the care of lower limbs across UHNM through innovation and collaboration.”

After submitting an abstract to the European Wound Management Association, Stephanie was also invited to present the project at the association’s 2025 conference in Barcelona, thanks to a bursary from The Society of Tissue Viability.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on 22 October 2025.