To what extent can pressure relieving surfaces help reduce the costs of pressure ulcers?

Pressure ulcers in acute care often involve extended hospital stays and additional health service resources. As well as the economic burden, pressure ulcers have a significant impact on patient morbidity. Pressure relieving surfaces have been recommended as a form of pressure ulcer prevention for patients at risk of developing ulcers, although such surfaces can be considerably more expensive than the standard ones used in hospitals. This summary looks at the clinical and economic evidence on pressure relieving surfaces, and discusses the likely impact on hospital budgets as a result of investing in a range of pressure relieving surfaces. The findings suggest that using pressure relieving surfaces for those at risk of developing a pressure ulcer can result in health service efficiencies and quality of life gains for patients.