19 November 2026

Stop Pressure Ulcer Day: United to bust pressure ulcers

Join us on Stop Pressure Ulcer Day November 19th to support everyday heroes in their fight against pressure ulcers.

Don’t miss our webinar

Prevent early. Treat powerfully.

Pressure ulcers remain a persistent and largely preventable challenge, affecting millions of patients and contributing to serious complications such as extended hospital stays and increased healthcare costs.^1,2

At Smith+Nephew, we believe in early prevention and powerful treatment to improve outcomes and to reduce the burden of pressure ulcers.

Prevent early

Bony prominences like heels, the sacrum and elbows can be protected by the prophylactic use of silicone multi-layer dressings.³ ALLEVYN^◊ COMPLETE CARE Foam Dressing with ShearDEFENSE^◊ Technology helps protect against pressure ulcers through a unique dressing design that promotes layer-to-layer sliding, absorbing shear and reducing friction.^*4This early-stage intervention is crucial in preventing pressure ulcers in vulnerable patient populations.³

Treat powerfully

The RENASYS^◊EDGE System delivers negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Treating complex pressure ulcers with advanced therapies like NPWT can help to achieve good clinical^5-9 and patient¹⁰ outcomes while being cost-effective.^†10 NPWT has been shown to promote granulation tissue formation, protect the wound from the outside environment and promote moisture balance within the wound bed.^11-15

Together, they enable a seamless, effective wound care journey.

Stop Pressure Ulcer Day: How can foam dressings support prevention?

Live Webinar | 19 November 2026, 6:00pm (UK time)

Hear from the experts

Join Jacqui Fletcher, Julie Tyrer and Kelly Phillips as we discuss the latest developments in advancing prevention strategies.

Learn how to apply the prevention toolkit to implement a structured pressure injury prevention plan
Understand how biomechanics and microclimate relate to prophylactic foam dressing usage
Discover how to integrate foam dressings as part of the prevention bundle

Faculty

Jacqui Fletcher
RN, MSc, BSc Independent Nurse Consultant

Julie Tyrer
Tissue Viability Nurse Consultant

Kelly Phillips, RGN, BSc, MSc
Nurse Consultant Skin Integrity Team

Don't miss out! Add to your calendar now

Pressure Injury Prevention Implementation Toolkit

Access our expert-led implementation toolkit developed by Wounds International. guidance to help translate pressure injury prevention guidelines into consistent clinical practice. Highlights the critical role of tissue deformation and shear, reinforcing evidence-based prevention strategies. Provides a practical quality improvement framework to identify barriers, drive change, and sustain outcomes.

Using foam dressings in pressure ulcer management

Responding to the needs of wound care clinicians and their patients, we’ve reinvented our flagship foam dressing technology to deliver a new, versatile solution designed to offer complete care.

Built to help defend patients against factors that contribute to pressure injuries^‡4,16-18 and to help minimise exudate leakage^‡19-21 with a next-generation, five-layer construction.

Using ShearDEFENSE^◊ Technology, ALLEVYN COMPLETE CARE Dressings absorb shear forces and reduce soft tissue strain^*4,22 to help minimise the risk of pressure injuries,²³ as part of a suitable prevention protocol.^4,22,23

Learn more

Discover a new era of innovation with RENASYS◊ EDGE NPWT

RENASYS EDGE NPWT system: the latest evolution in NPWT features an intuitive user interface for enhanced simplicity.²⁴ The durable pump includes self-test functionality, designed to help ensure confidence with device performance.²⁵

Learn more

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Citations

1. Ebi WE, Hirko GF, Mijena DA. Nurses' knowledge to pressure ulcer prevention in public hospitals in Wollega: a cross-sectional study design. BMC Nurs. 2019;18:20.
2. Wassel CL, Delhougne G, Gayle JA, Dreyfus J, Larson B. Risk of readmissions, mortality, and hospital-acquired conditions across hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) stages in a US National Hospital Discharge database. Int Wound J. 2020;17(6):1924–1934.
3. European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel and Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance. Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline. The International Guideline. Emily Haesler (Ed.). EPUAP/NPIAP/PPPIA: 2019.
4. Smith+Nephew 2024. Internal report. CSD.AWM.24.057 V2
5. Hurd T, Rossington A, Trueman P, Smith J. A Retrospective Comparison of the Performance of Two Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Systems in the Management of Wounds of Mixed Etiology. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2017;6(1):33-37.
6. Carnali M, Ronchi R, Finocchi L, Spuri Capesciotti S, Paggi B. Retrospective study on the use of negative pressure wound therapy in the treatment of pilonidal cysts (sinus pilonidalis) operated on using an open technique or complicated by dehiscence of the surgery site through sepsis. Acta Vulnologica 2016;14(1):24 - 40.
7. Rahmanian-Schwarz A, Willkomm LM, Gonser P, Hirt B, Schaller HE. A novel option in negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for chronic and acute wound care. Burns. 2012;38(4):573-577.
8. Smith+Nephew 2018. Results Sheet for the RENASYS TOUCH PCS Outcomes in Flaps. Internal Report. ST924A.
9. Hurd T, Chadwick P, Cote J, Cockwill J, Mole TR, Smith JM. Impact of gauze-based NPWT on the patient and nursing experience in the treatment of challenging wounds. Int Wound J. 2010;7(6):448 - 455.
10. Rossato M, Ryrie M, Robinson M, Searle R, Murdoch J. Use of NPWT as part of a Hospital @ Home wound management service. JCN Wound Care. 2021;35(4):50 - 57.
11. Birke-Sorensen H, Malmsjo M, Rome P, et al. Evidence-based recommendations for negative pressure wound therapy: Treatment variables (pressure levels, wound filler and contact layer) - Steps towards an international consensus. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2011;64(1):S1 - S16.
12. Young SR, Hampton S, Martin R. Non-invasive assessment of negative pressure wound therapy using high frequency diagnostic ultrasound: oedema reduction and new tissue accumulation. Int Wound J. 2013;10(4):383-388.
13. Dunn R, Hurd T, Chadwick P, et al. Factors associated with positive outcomes in 131 patients treated with gauze-based negative pressure wound therapy. Int J Surg. 2011;9(3):258 - 262.
14. Apelqvist J, Willy C, Fagerdahl AM, et al. EWMA Document: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy - Overview, Challanges and Perspectives. J Wound Care. 2017;26(3 (Supplement)):S1 - S155.
15. Smith+Nephew 2009. A prospective, open labelled, multicentre evaluation of the use of EZCare in the management of acute and chronic wounds. Internal Report. SR/CIME/010/012.
16. Smith+Nephew 2025. Internal report CSD.AWM.25.011.
17. Smith+Nephew 2025. Internal report CSD.AWM.25.016.
18. Smith+Nephew 2025. Internal report CSD.AWM.25.012.
19. Smith+Nephew 2025. Internal report CSD.AWM.25.008.
20. Tiscar-González V, et al. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2021;34(1):23–30.
21. Rossington A, et al. Wounds UK. 2013;9(4):91–95.
22. Smith+Nephew 2024. Internal report CSD.AWM.24.058 V2
23. Atkinson L, Costa B. Pressure Injury Prevention with A Unique Multi-Layer Foam Dresing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Poster presented at the 34th European Wound Management Association Annual Meeting, May 1-3, 2024, London, UK.
24. Smith and Nephew 2022. Internal Report. CSD.AWM.22.071.
25. Smith+Nephew 2022. Summary of RENASYS EDGE pump mechanical and electronic reliability testing. Internal Report. CSD.AWM.22.069

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