The Tissue Viability Service is a nurse led support and advisory service providing specialist advice and care to patients with, or at risk of developing wounds. This is achieved by the provision of holistic and evidence-based care by facilitating a high standard of practice throughout NHS Forth Valley.
The Service will work with all healthcare staff in all aspects of the prevention and management of acute and chronic wounds, with specific focus on those patients with complex and/or problematic wounds. This will be supported through educational programmes, policy development and implementation of national and local initiatives.
The Service also provides education for patients and their carers via leaflets and publications as well as in person when carrying out patient assessments.
Not all patients who have a wound will require specialist advice from the Tissue Viability Service.
The Service is to aid and support all healthcare professionals who are involved in the management of:
- Complex wounds – chronic non healing wounds, surgical wounds, grade 3 and above pressure ulcers/fungating wounds
- Leg Ulcers/chronic oedema
- Wounds requiring conservative sharp debridement
- Equipment needs of wound care patients
How to access the Service
The Tissue Viability Service can be accessed via patients GP, District Nurse, Practice Nurse, Podiatrist, Acute and Community Hospital Staff, Medical Staff and Care Home Trained staff.
With the patients consent then the above professionals will refer to the Tissue Viability service completing appropriate referral, to obtain specialist advice and support. Patients may be seen in the Tissue Viability Clinic, their own home (if housebound)/care home, hospital ward or their local GP practice Treatment Room. Specialist wound care/Tissue Viability advice is also given to healthcare staff via telephone and email.
NB The Tissue Viability Service does not operate a self referral service for members of the public.
Resources
- Care Home Prescription Request Form
- Compression Therapy Guidance for Lower Limb Care
- Exudate Pathway
- Flowchart for the Management of Hypergranulation (Nov 2017)
- Flowchart for the Management of Lymphorrhoea
- Grading And Moisture Tool
- Incontinence Associated Dermatitis Treatment Protocol
- Leg Ulcer Guidelines (2021)
- Leg Ulcer Treatment Algorithm (2021)
- Lower Limb Recommendations for Clinical Care (2021)
- Memphis Guidelines
- Memphis Pathway
- Moisture Lesion or Pressure Ulcer
- NATVNS Adapted Wound Assessment Chart – Scottish Wound Assessment Chart and Guide (SWAAG)
- PAC Patient Information Leaflet
- Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment & Prevention Guideline
- Referral Criteria for Specialist Compression Hosiery Clinic
- Scottish Wound Assessment & Action Guide
- Single Finger Test Pocket Guide
- Skin Tear Guidelines
- Thermal Injury Guidelines
- Tissue Viability Presentation – Strathcarron Hospice
- Tissue Viability Referral Form
- Tissue Viability Service Specification Referrals – January 2021
- Wound Management Formulary
- Wound Swabbing Poster
The Team
Tissue Viability Clinical Nurse Manager
- Lorraine Wright
Tissue Viability Nurses
- Irene Warnock
- Heather Macgowan
- Mhairi McKay
- Pamela Hilley
Clerical Support
- Yvonne Johnston
- Elspeth Laird
Contact Details
Tissue Viability Service
Falkirk Community Hospital, Majors Loan,
Falkirk, FK1 5QE
Phone: 01324 673747
Email: FV.TissueViability@nhs.scot or FV.tissueviabilityadmin@nhs.scot