title: The national health-care agenda in relation to negative pressure wound therapy.
abstract: The NHS was founded upon the principle of providing health care for all, regardless of financial status. However, it has reached a point where patient demands are outgrowing NHS resources, causing conflict. Chronic wound management represents a considerable financial burden on health services in terms of manpower requirement, equipment, specialist opinion, and adjunct therapies, such as negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Although funding bodies often perceive NPWT to be expensive, there is evidence that if used appropriately it leads to faster healing, early discharge and better quality of life for patients with chronic wounds. However, it must be acknowledged that the type and quality of studies are mixed. Further evidence is required to justify the use of NPWT in chronic wounds in the primary and secondary health-care setting.
authors.affiliation: Torbay Hospital, Torquay. sinhasurajit@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Surajit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.affiliation: Wound Healing Research Unit, Cardiff University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mudge
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / Q000191:economics*; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*