Managing wounds across NMHS

The busy Department of Wound Management services the whole of NMHS and in 2020 / 2021 held over 1,800 consultations for wound reviews and over 650 outpatient appointments.

Department Head Nicole Walsh tells us that “the total cost of wound care to the Australian healthcare system is around $2-4 billion annually with pressure injuries alone costing $286 million per year in just the hospitalisation expenditures.”

Based on the 6th floor of G Block at SCGH, the team are responsible for the management and consultation of patients with wounds at SCGH and OPH and also provide wound care support and services to KEMH, and all mental health facilities within NMHS (Mental Health Unit UU block SCGH, Graylands Hospital, Selby Older Adult Services Shenton Park, and the Adult Mental Health unit at OPH).

As no two wounds are the same, dressing regimens have to be individualised to suit the needs of each wound and patient.

“Complications from wounds significantly reduce quality of life for many people,” added Nicole “And the treatment of acute wounds that become a chronic wound also places a considerable burden on the health system; as the population ages so too will this situation.”

One of the joint projects between SCGH and OPH has been to assist in preventing potential problems for the patient during their hospital journey. Overall this team has worked hard to achieve the following outcomes:

• reducing avoidable public hospital emergency department presentations, reducing avoidable public hospital emergency department presentations,
• preventing avoidable public hospital admission or re-admission,
• reducing length of stay in the public hospital, and
• Safe and effective discharge from the public hospital.

The wound management team at SCGH also support and provide expert advice for:

• WA country areas of health (WACHS) and Regional Aboriginal Health services (regular wound consultation and support requests for new presenting problems and follow up wound assessments also add to their case load)
• Silver Chain nurse practitioners to assist in management of complex patients and prevent readmission (patient pathways are developed in agreements between the team, RCL, GPs and other local clinicians on how to best assess and manage care for specific conditions).

For wound consultations or advice from Nicole and her team, please call the office on (08) 6457 3266 or email Nicole.walsh@health.wa.gov.au