Setting a standard for leg ulcer assessment

Abstract

District nurses in one division of Highland Communities NHS Trust set a standard for the assessment of leg ulcers and audited their practice against it. The standard was that 'each patient referred with a leg ulcer is assessed by a trained nurse, using the agreed ulcer assessment form and Doppler ultrasound, within two weeks of referral'. This paper describes the audit processes which have led to the development of a multidisciplinary team approach for the management of leg ulcers in the community. It was found that only 30% (n = 7) of the nurses surveyed met with the required standard. The survey will be repeated following the official implementation of the standard.