Abstract
This article describes an innovation used to tackle the problem of high prevalence and severity of pressure sores on an orthopaedic trauma ward. Simple data from the pressure sore prevalence survey were used to build the case and provide the rationale for action. Actions taken included targeting the elderly with hip fractures and having the prevention strategy start in Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department. A standard with a monitoring tool was devised at ward level to review and monitor our practice in pressure sore prevention. This has resulted in the reduction of the prevalence rate of pressure sores on the ward from 21% to 8% over four years. The severity of pressure sores also decreased.