PATIENTS and visitors to hospitals throughout Worcestershire today have been given some invaluable advice on preventing bed sores.

As part of today's international Stop Pressure Ulcer Day specialist nurses held information stands at acute and community hospitals thorough the county helping people understand how the sores are caused and how to prevent them.

Pressure ulcers – also known as bed or pressure sores – happen when a large amount of force is applied to an area of the skin over a short period of time. This causes the skin and underlying tissue to break down, causing the sore.

They are commonly caused by people lying in bed or sitting down for long periods of time without moving.

More than 700,000 people in the UK suffer from the ulcers every year, with more than 185,000 of these occurring in hospital.

Lead tissue viability nurse at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust – the organisation running Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Kidderminster Hospital and Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital – Elaine Bethell was one of the staff members on hand throughout the day. She said: “Preventing avoidable pressure ulcers from happening in our hospitals will greatly improve the care for our vulnerable patients.

“If we can use our nursing skills to teach the public how to avoid them at home, that’s even better.”

The parts of the body most at risk of developing pressure ulcers are those in direct contact with supporting surfaces such as hospital beds, armchairs or wheelchairs including shoulders or shoulder blades, elbows, knees, ankles, heels, the spine and the tailbone.

The sores usually appear as slightly red or purple and can develop into a blister or open wound and later a deep hole in the skin if left untreated.

Professor and consultant nurse in tissue viability at Worcestershire Health and Care Trust – which runs community and non-urgent medical services in the county – Jackie Stephen-Haynes said: “Encouraging the public to take care of their skin and increasing awareness of pressure ulcers is essential in eliminating avoidable pressure ulcers.

“Washing, moisturising and reporting redness over bony areas is important in preventing pressure ulcers, which are painful and can take a long time to heal.”

For advice on pressure ulcers or any other health issue talk to a GP or call NHS 111.