Pressure sores: adopting the principles of risk management.

This article examines the continuing problem of pressure sores in the NHS from a purchasing and a providing manager's perspective. Risk management and the need for clinical effectiveness in treatment and prevention strategies are discussed. Reporting systems are advocated as a means to estimate risk and to form a store of information that will enable a response to made when problem areas are identified. Nursing advice and input into the contracting process is vital. The need for purchasers and NHS managers to work together to ensure that effective interventions are implemented to reduce both the financial burden on the NHS and the physiological insult offered to patients is stressed.