Sarah’s journey to recovery: gaining confidence with wound care at home

Sarah was referred to us after undergoing hernia repair surgery and dealing with a perforated bowel, which left her with an open abdominal wound. She was initially fitted with a Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC) dressing to help promote healing. Sarah required VAC dressing changes twice a week and was under our care for four and a half weeks before transitioning to care at her GP surgery. At that point, her VAC dressing was replaced with a conventional dressing to continue her healing process.

At the start of her treatment, Sarah felt anxious about managing the VAC dressing on her own. To help ease her concerns, we organised discussions with the visiting nurses to provide reassurance and address her worries. With consistent support and guidance, Sarah gradually built confidence and began to feel more comfortable managing her treatment independently. Eventually, she was even able to go outside, a significant milestone in her recovery.

As part of her treatment plan, regular photos of Sarah’s wound were taken with her consent. These images were shared with Tissue Viability Nurses (TVNs) for expert review. Based on their feedback, adjustments were occasionally made to her treatment, such as modifying the VAC pressure or changing dressing components. Each change was thoroughly explained to Sarah, so she always felt informed and involved in her care.

During her treatment, we ensured flexibility by providing visits to two locations: her home and her mother’s home. This approach allowed Sarah to manage her recovery in a way that suited her lifestyle, helping to reduce her anxiety during the process.

While Sarah sometimes experienced issues with the VAC pump or dressing, which is not uncommon, it understandably caused her increased anxiety. However, the strong communication between Sarah and the Virtual Ward team allowed us to respond quickly and resolve any problems. Extra home visits were arranged when necessary to ensure that Sarah’s concerns were addressed and that her wound healing progressed smoothly without complications.

After the completion of her VAC treatment, Sarah transitioned to her GP surgery for conventional dressings to continue the healing process. Although she felt a bit anxious about the change, she was reassured and given advice on how to manage the dressing independently, if needed, between her final visit with us and her first GP surgery appointment. This smooth transition ensured that Sarah continued to feel supported throughout her journey to recovery.

Thanks to the comprehensive care and support provided, Sarah’s Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score increased from 80 at the start of treatment to 99 upon discharge, reflecting a significant improvement in her comfort and confidence.

“The support I received helped me feel less anxious and gave me the confidence to take control of my recovery. It was such a relief to be able to manage my treatment at home.” – Sarah