Balancing cost-effectiveness with quality in tissue viability

The 21st century has seen an increase in the importance placed on the skills of healthcare practitioners. They now need to be able to demonstrate cost-effectiveness and balance it with quality in the delivery of care in the NHS. This emphasis is driven largely by the emergence of initiatives such as evidence-based practice, clinical governance and cost-effectiveness evaluations. The pressure to demonstrate cost-effective quality practices is becoming more and more prominent in the NHS. This article will discuss the practicalities and implications these pressures have on tissue viability and wound care providers.