Woundcare4Heroes conference hosted by Uni research institute
Mon, 03 Aug 2015 01:00:00 BST
The Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention hosted a day-long conference, The multi-facets of trauma aftercare
Pictured (l-r) are University organiser Vikki Hart, Visiting Professor Karen-leigh Edwards, Woundcare4Heroes CEO Claire Stephens and wounds specialist Dr Karen Ousey and Professor David Leaper
SOLDIERS injured in action and adjusting to civilian life with serious wounds made a practical contribution to a University of Huddersfield conference that attracted more than 100 experts who came to learn about latest developments in the science of wound care.
The event was the third annual conference of the organisation Woundcare4Heroes. Formed in 2012, it is a charity with a mission to improve standards of care for injured veterans. It has formed a link with the University of Huddersfield’s Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention (ISIIP), which pools the expertise of more than 40 specialists in a wide range of scientific and healthcare disciplines.
The aim is that the Institute – led by Dr Karen Ousey, an expert on wounds – will collaborate on research projects with the charity. And this led to the University hosting the conference, followed by a gala dinner.
The event began with a keynote address on “the role of resilience in rebuilding lives of injured veterans”, delivered by Karen-leigh Edward, Director of the Nursing Research Unit at St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Melbourne and a Visiting Professor at the University of Huddersfield. She is internationally-renowned for her expertise in the mental health care and nursing practice.
Then followed eight presentations on a range of topics that included microbiology for wounds, trauma aftercare and the issue of facial reconstruction.
Other sessions included a simulation of burn management and a discussion of the role of diet in the treatment of personnel injured in combat.
Dr Ousey said that the plan was for wounded veterans to rotate between several of the workshop sessions.
“They talked specifically about combat trauma and casualty and there is a huge issue surrounding different sorts of infections that we have never seen before in the country.
“A final session was about developing resilience so as they come out of the army, soldiers with disfiguring injuries can get back into normal life.”
Dr Ousey organised the Woundcare4Heroes conference in tandem with Vikki Hart, who is Departmental Admin Manager (Research) at the University’s School of Human and Health Sciences.
The conference was attended by some 120 delegates and in the evening, the University also hosted a Gala Dinner in support of Woundcare4Heroes. Celebrity guests included the actor Chris Chittell, alias Eric Pollard in ITV’s “Emmerdale”. He said: “Woundcare4Heroes is an incredible charity. I am very proud to be involved and urge people to support it.”
