Redesigning wound care in primary care networks: a nurse-led innovation journey

This article discusses the author's role in redesigning wound care delivery in two primary care networks in Norfolk, responding to pressures on local leg ulcer clinics. A tissue viability nurse role was embedded into primary care, one of the first in England, enabling early intervention, consistent care and collaborative education. The initiative addressed long-standing inefficiencies through service co-design, national guideline integration and creation of new pathways. The author also conducted a pilot study on standardising wound care. Key outcomes from the study included a reduction in healing times from 19.29 to 4.12 weeks and a 74% cost saving per patient. The project also improved clinical confidence and reduced systemic burden. This model demonstrates the value of integrating specialist nursing roles in primary care to drive quality improvement and patient outcomes.