Disconnection: the user voice within the wound dressing supply chain.

AIM

This study examined the user voice in England's National Health Service (NHS) wound dressing supply chain.

BACKGROUND

The impetus for this work came from involvement in a collaboration between industry and clinicians, entitled Woundcare Research for Appropriate Products. Experiences from that study highlighted the notable absence of research about the impact of the supply chain on the users of dressings.

METHOD

Interview data are presented following an outline of the grounded theory method used. These data were obtained from key stakeholders (n = 41) within the wound dressing supply chain such as nurses, manufacturers, distributors, professional organizations, government organizations and user groups.

RESULTS

The consequences of supply disconnection revealed haphazard supply, unmet user needs and lack of information transfer between player groups.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

These consequences explain the lack of user voice in the supply chain and have far-reaching implications for nursing management, through purchasing decisions and nurses' management of wound care.