Wounds cost the NHS £5 billion per annum!!!!!!!

A recently published CATALYST study showed that the NHS is managing approximately 2.2 million wounds per annum at an estimated cost to the NHS of £5 billion (comparable to obesity). Of these, it was estimated that 1.3 million wounds heal (60%) and 0.9 million remain unhealed (40%), although the annual cost of managing the healed wounds was estimated to be two-thirds of that for the unhealed wounds. An estimated 30% of all wounds being managed within the NHS lack a differential diagnosis. Actions to reduce the cost of wound care should focus on (a) wound prevention, (b) accurate diagnosis and (c) improving wound healing rates. Please see http://www.catalyst-health.co.uk/wound-healing-12.html