title: Practice question.
abstract: In recent years pressure ulcers have been seen as an unacceptable consequence of poor nursing care (The Telegraph 2011) and staff have questioned whether the development of a pressure ulcer should lead to a referral via adult safeguarding procedures. There are no national guidelines. Some safeguarding adults boards have strict criteria, with all pressure ulcers of a certain grade or above being referred, regardless of individual circumstances. This leaves no flexibility to consider the root cause of the ulcer and whether there are specific safeguarding issues.
authors.affiliation: For vulnerable older adults, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and associate clinical researcher, Newcastle University.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abley