In celebration of Legs Matter week we are spotlighting our Leg Ulcer Clinic, which Director of People, Communications and Inclusion Namdi visited earlier this year. Read his blog below:
This week, I had the privilege of joining our dedicated nurses at the Leg Ulcer Clinic at the Mary Potter Centre. I participated in three clinics, witnessing first-hand exceptional care being delivered with compassion. The high levels of patient engagement and holistic care provided by the team were truly inspiring.
It was a valuable experience to speak with our patients and hear about their journeys and how they came to access our services. Throughout my interactions, each of them attested to the excellent work being done by the team and how it had significantly improved their mobility and daily activities.
I observed the team supporting patients in self-care whenever possible, providing advice on the use of suitable dressings, compression socks, compression leg garments, and hosiery kits, tailored to each patient's condition and stage of treatment. One patient shared their story of attending the clinic for 22 years, highlighting the importance of continuity of care and the relationships built between clinicians and patients.
Each week, patients attend the leg ulcer clinic, often seeing the same clinician at each visit. This continuity is crucial for the patients, who highly value their interactions with the staff. I was initially expecting that weekly visits to a health centre could be distressing for patients. However, the patients I spoke to looked forward to their visits, enjoying their interactions with the staff who made them feel comfortable and engaged.
Hearing the patients' stories made me keenly aware of how fragmented healthcare can be at times. Proper advice on self-care and community support upon discharge from acute services could prevent certain healthcare conditions. This was evident from a patient who had been recently discharged from the hospital after a surgical procedure.
I recognised that this is an extremely busy service, with patients booked back-to-back throughout the day. Despite the pressure, the team demonstrated unwavering support for each other and upheld our values in their interactions. Staff absences were also a challenge, with some employees off sick on the day, requiring managers to step in and fill gaps. This inevitably resulted in some managerial tasks being left unfinished.
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the Tissue Viability Service Team for their time in showing me the remarkable work they do. It was incredibly impressive. On my way in and out, I also had the opportunity to meet the lovely receptionists. Observing their efforts to make patients feel welcome was heartening. The reception team coordinates various clinics, including those for physiotherapy, paediatrics, MSK, and stroke and cardiac care. They shared their enjoyment of the variety in their roles and the excellent support they receive from their line manager.
Date published: 13 June 2025
