Pressure ulcers – definition, assessment, prevention and treatment
Pressure ulcers are a painful, debilitating condition that can, largely, be prevented. Seen as a measure of harm by NHS England/Improvement and reportable to the CQC in care home settings, understanding how best to protect those within your care from developing a pressure ulcer is an important aspect of care delivery.
Prevention of pressure ulcers is however not always easy and, in some cases, not possible. Understanding how they develop, how to recognise those at risk, how to prevent them and what to do when they do occur is vital knowledge for anyone involved in the care of those vulnerable to pressure ulcers.
Staff with different skill sets can work their way through the whole programme, or they can choose individual modules.
Webinar Parts
Assessment of risk (the a of aSSKINg)
Assessment of risk (the a of aSSKINg)
Prevention - aSSKINg
Prevention - aSSKINg
Treatment of Pressure Ulcers
Treatment of Pressure Ulcers
Learning Outcomes
- To understand how pressure causes skin damage
- To understand the cascade of events that lead to pressure damage.
- To recognise the primary factors that can increase risk of pressure ulcer development
- To understand other factors that might impact further on the risk
- To understand the place and relevance of risk assessment tools and why they score as they do
- To understand the aSSKINg bundle and how this supports the most important aspects of pressure ulcer prevention
- To gain deeper insight into each aspect of aSSKINg, what the key aspects of care within each element of the bundle are and the importance of documentation
- To recognise the early warning signs of pressure damage & what actions must be taken immediately
- To gain insight into the main aspects of care in the treatment of pressure ulcers (including categorisation)
- To understand your role in the treatment of pressure ulcers
- To gain insight into the different dressings that might be used and why
- To understand wound management with regard to pressure ulcers, including wound assessment and management decision-making
- To understand some of the dressings that may be used in the management of pressure ulcers
Meet our Experts

Heidi has been a Tissue Viability Nurse since 2002. Her interest and passion in the prevention and management of pressure ulcers began, however, in 1987 on registering as a nurse. She has worked in both acute and community care.
People who watched this also watched...
Menopause: Is there a role for Occupational Therapy?
With growing awareness and understanding of the menopausal transition that women experience, the question arises: What role can Occupational Therapists play in supporting them? Perimenopause can significantly influence women’s participation in meaningful occupations, daily roles, and routines, and may even challenge their sense of occupational identity. Given their expertise in the value of occupation for health and wellbeing, occupational therapists are uniquely positioned to provide support during this life stage.
Pain management that works
In this session we will explore the prevalence and causes of pain in older adult residents and how that pain affects them in terms of cognitive, emotional and physical health and safety. We will look more closely at the relationship between pain and pressure ulceration in terms of increased risk and more challenging management, and explore management options including pharmacological, non-pharmacological and self-management.
Beyond the cushion: Addressing pressure care challenges in specialist seating
With an increasing range of specialised seating solutions available to support service users with complex needs, clinicians are faced with more choices than ever. However, despite these advances, uncertainties around effective pressure care within seating systems remain a common concern among professionals.
This webinar aims to help you gain clarity and confidence in navigating pressure care challenges to achieve the best results in seating provision.