The impact on patients can be considerable, due to increased pain, length of hospital stay and decreased quality of life. In 2004, pressure ulcers were estimated to cost the NHS £1.4–£2.4 billion per year, which was 4% of the total NHS expenditure.

The occurrence of pressure ulcers costs the National Health Service (NHS) more than 3.8 million every day.

World Health Organization ( 2009) Data and statistics: Shortage of nurses and midwives.In the UK, over 700 000 patients are affected by pressure ulcers each year, and 180 000 of those are newly acquired each year.

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