Preventing unnecessary suffering: an audit of a leg ulcer clinic

Unnecessary patient suffering and increased costs in leg ulcer care were reported in an Effective Health Care bulletin (NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (NHSCRD), 1997). Follow-up assessment of patients with a history of venous ulceration has beneficial effects for patients' quality of life, and for effective and efficient management of resources for community nurses. This article describes the process of implementing evidence-based practice in a leg ulcer clinic in South London within existing resources, which resulted in the successful prevention of leg ulcer recurrence.