Injecting drug use: developing a drop-in wound care clinic

The first part of this two-part series examined the difficulties facing nurses working with injecting drug users with skin problems (Finnie and Nicolson, 2002). This article describes the needs of homeless people with skin complaints and the innovative development of a specific drop-in wound care clinic within The Big Issue Scotland premises in Glasgow. It illustrates some practical and political difficulties of working with a unique and challenging client group, and of developing a wound care service outwith the NHS. Case studies illustrate individual people and their own challenges.