Chronic wound service
What is the chronic wound service?
Castlemaine Health’s chronic wound service brings together existing services in a more coordinated way. The unique multidisciplinary approach benefits combines the skills of specialists in the fields of:
- nursing
- podiatry
- nutrition
- occupational therapy
- physiotherapy.
Who is it for?
People experiencing chronic wounds, which are wounds that don’t progress through the stages of healing normally. They tend to heal at a much slower rate or only partially heal. They also frequently reoccur. Any acute wound can become chronic, but the most common chronic wounds are:
- pressure injuries (also knows as bedsores)
- diabetic ulcers
- leg ulcers
- venous ulcers.
People who suffer from chronic wounds experience:
- pain
- reduced mobility
- complications, eg. infections.
Chronic wounds impact on people’s quality of life. People with chronic wounds often end up stuck at home, unable to engage with the activities they enjoy. They frequently feel isolated. They are more likely to experience more serious mental health issues including depression and anxiety. People aged 65+ are at higher risk of having a chronic wound.
How can it help?
People’s perception is often that a wound is going to heal with what is put on it, but that isn’t the case. With wound care the focus is on the body’s ability to heal the wound.
Chronic wounds are almost always associated with underlying chronic conditions. This means they need accurate diagnosis and special care to address the root cause, and minimise risk of recurrence.
What does it involve?
The chronic wound service enables the team to get to know each patient and deliver the support and resources that work for them.
The clinic team meets weekly to share information and develop plans to support each patient. They also link in with the complex care (HARP) team, who work with individuals and external services. They help tackle some of the medical and social challenges that can be barriers to healing wounds.
More information
Contact the CRC to find out more.