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This nurse-led service provides community leg ulcer clinics in Baldock, Hatfield, Hitchin, Stevenage and Royston where people with a leg ulcer receive a full assessment (including Doppler assessment) to ascertain its cause.
The service provides appropriate on-going treatment (planned in line with local, national and international recommendations) for venous leg ulcers in the leg ulcer clinics in Baldock, Hatfield, Hitchin, Royston and Stevenage.
The service is a starting point for referral to other specialities if the ulcer is due to other causes. Well ulcer clinics are held to advise, monitor and support patients once the ulcer has healed. We liaise with other specialities, in particular the vascular department and tissue viability nurses in the local hospitals.
The service provides advice and support for patients, relatives and carers as well as for health care professionals. Our qualified practitioners facilitate a leg ulcer management training programme for all community nurses, to enable them to provide evidence-based care for patients both in clinics and other settings.
Contact the service
Tel: 0300 123 7571
Opt 5, Opt 11
- Address: North Rd, Hertford SG14 1LP, Hertford, SG14 1LP
- Reception phone number: 0300 123 7571
- How the service is provided
- Who is eligible for the service
- What will happen at your appointment
- Useful information
- Making a referral
- Patient experience
How the service is provided
- The leg ulcer team responsible for the service consists of qualified nurses with additional specialised training in leg ulcer management, healthcare assistants and administrative support.
- The leg ulcer and well ulcer clinics are staffed by members of the leg ulcer team.
- Some clinics are additionally staffed by nurses within community nursing teams in HCT who have received appropriate leg ulcer management training from the leg ulcer team.
Who is eligible for the service
The service is open to anyone with a leg ulcer who is registered with a GP in:
- North Herts and Stevenage
- Royston
- Welwyn and Hatfield
What will happen at your appointment
As soon as we receive your referral, you will go onto the waiting list to be seen in your local leg ulcer clinic (or at home if you are housebound). While you are waiting to come to the clinic, you will need to continue having your leg treated by your community or practice nurse.
We will offer you an appointment in a local leg ulcer clinic when a space is available (or see you at home if you are housebound). A detailed assessment will then be carried out in order to establish the cause of your ulcer. This assessment includes a Doppler test to check whether the blood is effectively getting to your legs.
Most ulcers are due to problems with veins in the legs, and the best treatment for this type of ulcers is compression bandages or hosiery. If this is the case, you may attend certain clinics once a week for your leg to be treated or attend certain clinics periodically for review.
If the ulcer is due to other causes, the clinic staff will write to your GP and ask for you to be referred to the appropriate hospital specialist. Your ulcer will be treated by your community or practice nurse while you are waiting to be seen.
Useful information
Leaflets
- Aftercare for healed leg ulcers
- Cellulitis of the lower limb
- Having a doppler ultrasound
- Introduction to the leg ulcer service
- Use of steroid ointments
Links
Best practice guidance, SIGN (2010b) Management of chronic venous leg ulcers. Clinical guideline No. 120. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.
www.sign.ac.uk
RCN (2006) The nursing management of patients with venous leg ulcers. Recommendations. Royal College of Nursing.
www.rcn.org.uk
Summary of current evidence base and practical guidance on best practice, NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries.
cks.nice.org.uk
Network of resources and forum to advance education of health care professionals, Leg Ulcer Forum.
legulcerforum.org
National Wound Care Strategy Programme's Lower Limb Clinical Workstream
nationwoundcarestrategy.net
Websites
Health Information
www.patient.co.uk
Royal College Nursing clinical guideline documents for venous leg ulcers
www.rcn.org.uk/development/practice/clinicalguidelines/venous_leg_ulcers
Information from the National Health Service on conditions, treatments, local services and healthy living
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Leg-ulcer-venous/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Legs Matter
https://legsmatter.org/
Making a referral
The service takes referrals from GPs, community nurses, practice nurses and hospital specialists. Referrals from GP surgeries can be made via e-referrals. Any other referrals can be sent via email preferably, or by post.
Leg ulcer clinic referral form
Level 2 specialist leg ulcer referral form (for North Herts, Royston, Stevenage, Welwyn and Hatfield)
Details for referrals from North Herts, Stevenage, Royston, Welwyn and Hatfield
Leg Ulcer Service
Referral Hub (second floor)
Robertson House
Six Hills Way
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
SG1 2FQ
Tel: 0300 123 7571
Opt 5, Opt 11
Email: enhertslegulcer@nhs.net
Level 1 Immediate and Necessary Care for Lower Limb Leg Ulcers Pathway (for professional use only)
Patient experience
If you would like to share your story, please contact the Patient Experience team on 01707 388036 or email hct.patientexperienceteam@nhs.net.
We would also love to hear about your experience on our service, please complete a survey by clicking here.
