What is it about?
This article describes how a new specialist nursing role was introduced in GP practices in Norfolk to improve wound care. Many patients with leg ulcers faced long waits for leg ulcer clinics, which delayed healing. By placing a Tissue Viability Nurse (TVN) directly in primary care, patients received earlier assessment, practice nurses gained expert support, and care became more consistent. A pilot project showed wounds healed much faster—reducing average healing times from 19 weeks to just 4 weeks—and costs were cut by nearly 74%. This approach improved patient outcomes and reduced pressure on community services.
Featured Image
Photo by Marie-Michèle Bouchard on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This work is important because it tackles a major and growing challenge in healthcare: the management of chronic wounds, particularly leg ulcers. These wounds are painful, debilitating, and costly to the NHS, yet patients often face long delays in receiving specialist care. Such delays can lead to slower healing, repeated infections, increased hospital admissions, and poorer quality of life. This approach also relieves pressure on overstretched leg ulcer clinics, making better use of NHS resources. Importantly, the model is scalable and could be replicated in other regions, supporting national priorities for integrated, community-based care.
Perspectives
Writing this article was important to highlight the collaborative work between primary care and community TVN colleagues. It demonstrates how this approach has improved wound care for ambulatory patients while ensuring equitable education and support for nurses working in GP practices.
Jane Parker
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Redesigning wound care in primary care networks: a nurse-led innovation journey, British Journal of Community Nursing, September 2025, Mark Allen Group,
DOI: 10.12968/bjcn.2025.0114.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
