Wound expert appointed professor
Tue, 24 May 2016 14:48:00 BST
“…it is all about preventing skin damage in people who may be at risk…”
MEDICAL advances are leading to increases in average life expectancy, but one result of the ageing population is a parallel rise in levels of serious skin damage, caused by conditions such as pressure ulcers. This is one the developments that has led to the appointment of Karen Ousey as Professor of Skin Integrity at the University of Huddersfield, confirming it as a major centre for research in a field that is of burgeoning importance.
Professor Ousey is an established expert on wound care and tissue viability who began her career in acute care nursing before becoming a lecturer-practitioner. She arrived at the University of Huddersfield 11 years ago and she heads its multi-disciplinary Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention, which in June hosts a major international conference.
Now, her new appointment will be a boost to research in a field that is of increasing medical significance, said Professor Ousey. “People will see that professorial title and realise how serious we are about this area.”
“It is all about preventing skin damage in people who may be at risk and it also about education to staff, patients and relatives and carers on how to look after the skin,” she continued.
Professor Ousey and her fellow researchers are investigating the science behind skin, discovering ways to prevent pressure damage and how to manage wounds effectively.
“One of our biggest priorities is to maintain and improve health-related quality of life outcomes,” she said. “People who do have a wound or a pressure ulcer are able to manage them and live a normal life.”
Lancashire-born Karen Ousey did her early training at Rochdale School of Nursing and began her career at London’s Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, acquiring extra qualifications. When she returned to the North, she worked at hospitals in Manchester, Bury and Salford. In 1997, her interest in research and teaching led her to become a lecturer-practitioner at Salford University.
She became a full-time lecturer in 2000 and after five years joined the University of Huddersfield’s School of Human and Health Sciences. Prior to her professorship, Dr Ousey was Reader in Advancing Clinical Practice within the Division of Podiatry and Clinical Sciences.
The author and co-author of many articles, her recent output covers topics such as avoidable pressure ulcers, the importance of hydration in wound healing, the role of the tissue viability nurse and an investigation of staff knowledge of pressure ulcers in care homes. She is the Clinical Editor of the journal Wounds UK.
“The more we research and publish, the more heightened awareness there is among the general public about skin integrity,” said Professor Ousey. A key issue, she added, is that the population now is generally living longer, meaning that more and more people must cope with co-morbidities that affect the condition of the skin.
“But skin integrity is an issue for all age groups,” said Professor Ousey. “For example, very young and pre-term babies are affected as well. Their skin isn’t well formed and there can be problems with device-related damage, such as tubes that rub against skin.”
Skin integrity and wound management are important elements of nurse education at the University of Huddersfield. But the topics are of increasing relevance to other disciplines.
“Healthcare is changing so we also teach pharmacy students about wound management,” said Professor Ousey. “People are finding it harder to get an appointment with their GP, so they tend to go to a pharmacist for advice if they have got cuts and scrapes or leg ulcers.”
