title: Collaborative working to improve leg ulcer outcomes for injecting drug users.
abstract: This case study features a 37-year-old drug user with a chronic leg ulcer caused by injecting Heroin into his leg veins. The case study demonstrates collaborative working between two specialist services based in Leicester. This joint working and knowledge sharing has allowed for appropriate leg ulcer management in this erratic and vulnerable group of mainly young people. Many factors need to be taken into account when prescribing a dressing regimen for this group, and the successes and complications encountered are described.
authors.affiliation: Leicester County and Rutland PCT, Towers Hospital, Gipsy Lane, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wheatley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004739:England; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008297:Male; D010346:Patient Care Management; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing*