Agenda item

Kay Libby gave a presentation on this issue on behalf of SWIFT PCN. She explained that Tracey Elliott, Abi Hills and Victoria Fyfe were unable to attend but were actively involved in the work concerned with this project.

The Board noted the presentation and the following key points on it made by Kay Libby:

·       This was a service providing joint provision for people with lower leg wounds to help them with their physical and mental wellbeing, including compression bandaging and practical and social support

·       This project had been set up by SWIFT PCN following the pandemic. The previous model had won a Runners Up award

·       Existing funding would end in March 2023. It was hoped that this could be built on for the future

·       There were two clinical sessions run a week – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. There was a team who treated the volunteers and others who helped provide refreshments and wash up. Each surgery saw 6 patients at a time

·       Age UK were getting to know the people who required this service including how to help them with providing financial benefits or allowances as well as mitigate the effects of social isolation. There had previously been a social café at WIthywood

·       SWIFT had set up these clinics due to the increasing pressures that surgeries were facing in dealing with leg ulcers

·       It helped participants to see other people going through the same experience that they had. Two of the current volunteers had been former leg ulcer patients

·       There had been a 67% healing rate since January 2022 and a reduction in healing rate. This had saved £10,000 in staffing costs and 260 clinic hours across 5 practices

·       One former participant who had left hospital and not returned received help with their shopping and is now volunteering at the clinic

·       This could be used to sign post to other organisations which offered the opportunity to reduce unnecessary health visits

·       Since there remained no opportunities for people to get their toenails cut, the clinic was considering options to provide a low cost toe cutting service. However, a larger space was required since the clinic received 43 people a day and also required volunteer transport

·       The future of this service would be linked to the provision of joint funding. Once details of long term health conditions were assessed, this could be shared with South Gloucestershire and North Somerset with the potential for future funding

·       A video was then shown of those people who attended the clinic

The Board noted the presentation and confirmed its support for an integrated form of working and funding for this service.

Board members made the following points and Kay Libby responded as required:

·       This service helped to reduce pressure on GP surgeries and the need for some patients to attend so regularly

·       It was noted that this was a great service for South Bristol. The possibility of setting up an equivalent service in Bristol North and West was being examined but would need a great deal of support from partners. Age UK confirmed that they can provide details of the Doppler scores of patients and also provide transport

·       Whilst some patients were initially concerns at having to show their legs, most of them got over this and found it extremely helpful to go through it together. Screens had initially been used but following complaints that this was socially isolating for patients these had been removed

·       The PCT lead nurse had established a leg ulcer clinic some time ago. There was an important role for Sirona in toenail cutting and bandaging

·       There was also a link to falls prevention. The message to urge people to change their behaviour needed to be subtle. There was also a slipper exchange and provision of the renewal for the bottom of walking sticks

·       Whilst diabetic foot care had been provided in the past, it was currently not so good and could result in a huge amount of issues with disability if these did not work

·       This was an extremely useful service and provided a very consistent approach and a regular service if people knew it was available each week

·       This clinic could provide the opportunity for work experience for students, for example with the City of Bristol College along the lines of what had been implemented in Birmingham. Attendees were urged to consider how their organisation could help support work like this