Important Patient Update – Withdrawal of Unfunded Service

For some time, we have been providing a wound care service for the convenience of our patients, despite the funding to provide some wound care being received by the hospitals.

This service has been especially valuable for those who need regular care but struggling to get to Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

We regret that due to increasing demands on our nursing team and financial pressures on NHS General Practice overall (https://www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-centre/responding-to-the-new-gp-contract-for-202425 We can no longer continue to provide this service for which the hospital receives payment as continuing to do so compromises our ability to deliver our core General Practice Services.

What does this mean for you?

• From December 2024 we will offer NHS post-operative wound care to any new patients. This includes post operative care from all NHS services, including dermatology, surgery and urgent care.

• We cannot offer dressings or wound care for wounds obtained via trauma or other injury, as we do not have a contract to provide care for minor injuries

• Patients currently receiving wound care will continue to be offered a maximum of 2 dressing changes per week until they are healed and discharged

• Patients who are housebound will be able to receive post-operative wound care from the local District Nursing service. This should be arranged by the hospital service directly at time of discharge.

• We will continue to offer post operative clip / suture removal as well as wound care for leg ulcers, as these are separately contracted services.

Thank you for your understanding and support