Lower leg ulcer Audit Report October 2004

West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust Gloucestershire Primary & Community Care Audit Group Lower Leg Ulcer Audit Date October 2004 Contents Page Number Background 3 Doppler assessments 4 Audit of Lower leg ulcer management 4 Results 5 -20 Discusion 21 - 22 Appendices List of courses attended 23 Audit tool 24 - 25 2 Background Despite a prolific amount of research, education and improved treatment, leg ulcers remain a debilitating and painful condition. They affect about 1% of the British population and annually cost the NHS at least £300 million. Leg ulceration can be defined as: “Loss of skin below the knee, on the leg or foot, which has not healed within six weeks.” There is wide variation in practice, and evidence of unnecessary suffering and cost as a result of inadequate management. R. Cooper (2004) Leg ulcers: improving management The New Generalist Vol.2 No2 Leg ulcer disease is typically cyclical and chronic, with periods of complete healing followed by recurrence. Two thirds of patients with leg ulcers experience two or more recurrences. It is a major cause of morbidity and suffering and has a significant impact on health service costs. Although delivery of care varies, between 60 – 90% of patients are seen ...