A project led by a team at Watford General Hospital has helped patients avoid over 2,500 pressure ulcer-free days while using ventilation masks.
Tight-fitting masks, used as part of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) treatment, help people whose lungs don’t work effectively due to acute respiratory disease or muscle weakness. Although essential, the masks must be worn for long periods, which can lead to painful ulcers across the bridge of the nose.
Adam Rochester, NIV practitioner, and his team carried out a Quality Improvement project to prevent these ulcers. They identified alternative masks that deliver the same treatment more comfortably.
Adam said: “This is a big step in improving comfort for patients wearing ventilation masks. It has been a real team effort, and the wider team’s commitment and support has been essential to the success of this initiative.
“The project saw great engagement and support from the nursing team involved in the care of these patients, and the Trust’s quality improvement team contributed to ensure the project reached its full potential.”
The project’s research has been published nationally on the BMJ Open Quality website. The changes made by the team are now standard practice across West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Watford General, Hemel Hempstead and St Albans City hospitals.
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