Telemedicine: a new model of care

An estimated one per cent of the population will have a leg ulcer and prevalence increases markedly with age (Angle and Bergan, 1997). At any one time it is estimated that 100,000 patients have open leg ulcers that require treatment. This treatment is mainly repeat dressings over extended periods of time, carried out by community nurses. This is estimated to cost 600m Pounds each year in the UK (Logan, 1997). Improving healing time for leg ulcers and reducing recurrence leads to an improved quality of life for patients and their carers in addition to major cost savings for the NHS.