Alternating pressure systems: reducing user error

Pressure sores remain a major clinical challenge for nearly every sector of health care. The Department of Health has recognised this and in the 1994/95 NHS Priorities and Planning Guidance encouraged healthcare providers to set annual targets for the reduction of the prevalence of sores by 5 per cent. It has been argued that this is not straightforward (NHS CRD 1995) especially as many areas do not monitor the problem and so do not know how effective they are at preventing sores. Reduction cannot be attempted unless an effective prevention plan is in place. The causes of pressure sores are multifactorial, so the prevention strategies must reflect this.