Staff at Sirona, the community health and social services provider, have produced an innovative song raising the profile of pressure ulcers which could now become an internet sensation.
Based on the children’s song, Heads Shoulders, Knees and Toes; Elbows, Bottoms, Hips and Heels has been written to highlight the actions that can be taken to prevent this uncomfortable condition.
It is the brainchild of Alison Griffiths, a locality manager with Sirona, a not-for-profit specialist community health and social services provider in the South West with bases in Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
National research shows pressure ulcers cost the NHS between £1,760 million and £2,640 million each year and much can be done to prevent them and/or stop them getting any worse.
As well as having specialist nurses who focus on this, Sirona wants all of its staff to be aware of what they can do to help alleviate the problems they cause.
Keeping people healthy, at home and as independent as possible is key for Sirona.
The severity of pressure ulcers can range from grade 1 (mild) to 4 (very serious) and while they can occur at any location on the body, they are most common in areas which regularly bear the weight of the body.
Alison said: “I was inspired to write the song by seeing and hearing stories of service users who had pressure sore damage that hadn’t been immediately picked up by staff or highlighted to us by the patient or their family.
“I felt that if we had a little tune that people could use to think about pressure area damage when visiting patients it would help as well as encouraging patients to think about what they can do to relieve the pressure and prevent avoidable injury.
“Pressure ulcers can become very painful but aren’t always when they start so patients don’t mention it; the best form of treatment is prevention.”
Pressure ulcers tend to affect those who are unable to move often or cannot move position and can affect any age.
Alison wrote the lyrics and enlisted staff who gave up break and lunchtimes to record the song and video with the help of The Therapeutic Media Company.
As well as rewriting the well-known chorus, each verse has a reminder about checking the obvious areas; recording what you see; telling the nurse if you have any redness or are getting sore and checking equipment.
Alison said: “The experience was a little daunting, but I was truly inspired by the commitment of the staff to get involved and make a difference – we had all groups of staff involved, therapists, nurses, admin, managers, directors and it really was a fun experience – even though I didn’t expect to be in it quite so much!
“We came up with the name Relieving the Pressure as we’re talking about relieving damage caused by pressure ulcers but also it was such fun to do that hopefully people will also laugh, which relieves pressure and it will stick in their minds.
“We are hoping people will share the video widely via social media and really get everyone talking about pressure ulcers.”
To watch the video go to www.sirona-cic.org.uk.
