Pressure sores: counting the legal cost of nursing neglect

In Vol 4(22): 1298-9, the author discussed the Audit Commission's (1995) report on coordinating care for elderly patients which found serious lapses in the way pressure sore prevention is carried out. This article discusses recent legal cases and complaints made to the Health Service Commissioner or Ombudsman regarding pressure sores. It focuses on case reports and complaints. These are useful educational tools which illustrate the problems in this area and the steps needed to improve the quality of care. The conclusion reached is that most pressure area complaints and cases could have been easily avoided at minimum or no expense.