Woundcare 4 Heroes

Operational Activity and Project SOS

Woundcare4heroes charity was founded in 2012 with a mission to bridge the gap of trauma aftercare services to provide lifelong care pathways and a single point of contact for veterans transitioning into our NHS following injury during military service.

Wcare4H have spent almost four years exploring the needs for veteran trauma aftercare services, raising awareness amongst practitioners and the veteran community, developing care and wound prevention pathways, providing clinical services, education and advice to healthcare practitioners, veterans and their families.

It is a huge achievement for Woundcare4heroes to be able to further expand its services and we are all extremely proud that the charity has launched an exciting new clinical service for a 220 veteran facility in Chelsea and Westminster.

Wcare4H.

Aptly named “Project SOS” as the service is based within the Sir Oswald Stoll Trust. Project “SOS” is kindly sponsored by URGO Medical UK to provide a unique NHS, GP, CCG, Charity and industry coalition to raise awareness amongst the veteran community at Stoll, radar and triage each veteran to plan a lifelong care bundle whilst supporting our NHS partners with clinical advice, expert specialists and rapid referrals where necessary whilst providing educational support and training events locally.

This service will link into the work being undertaken in Birmingham and Liverpool.

Conference

The 3rd Woundcare4heroes annual conference was held on Saturday 1st August 2015 in partnership with the Skin Institute of the University of Huddersfield and attracted 120 delegates from a variety of clinical specialities.

This year the programme offered greater holistic insight into veteran trauma aftercare to include mental health needs and family considerations as well as addressing the initial trauma and hemorrhage, wound infection, wound debridement, scar management, camouflage, nutrition, vascular, and lymphatic implications.  Sixteen speakers from a variety of disciplines, military and civilian, national and international delivered main stage sessions and practical workshops. We are currently planning our 4th conference programme for 2016 to include areas of further interest recommended by this years delegate feedback. 

We would like to thank the University of Huddersfield for their hospitality, Mole Productions for the filming of the sessions which are available on our website, the companies whose exhibition support allowed the event to be undertaken and for the commitment of the delegates for attending our weekend conference.

Exhibitors included, JWC, Lindsay Leg Club Foundation, British Association of Skin Camouflage, Urgo, Activa, Crawford Healthcare, ConvaTec, H&R Healthcare, Smith and Nephew, Advancis, Coloplast, ReCell, Infirst Healthcare, BioMonde, Celox, Physiquipe and Medstrom.

The educational event was followed by an evening of celebration and fund raising at the gala dinner and awards ceremony supported by cast members of the TV programme Emmerdale. We would like to extend our special thanks to actors Chris Chittell, Bhasker Patel and Adam Fielding for making the evening a night to remember.  

Everyone had a fantastic, fun filled evening. WC4H presented Made a difference, aptly named MAD awards to Justin Cole, Ian Staples, URGO Medical UK, Mole Productions, MA Healthcare, Simon Barrett and the cycle team and Cacia Griggs. Karl Hinnett and Bob Barrett also received awards for Veteran recognition and support.

The event raised in the region of £17,000 which will go a long way to helping more of our veterans. Jenny Lewis of WC4H said, “ I am so pleased with the event, the money we raised and the buzz we created around the charity, so many people are already asking about next years event and how they can help support WC4H” She continued, “I’ve been overwhelmed by the comments and feedback that delegates, exhibitors and speakers have expressed. I am genuinely excited where the next 12 months are going to take us”

Income Generation

We have come a long way in the last 12 months, we have had many companies take us on as their chosen charity, complete arduous challenges, bike rides, parachute jumps, endurance challenges, the list goes on. Very special thanks go to Simon Barrett and the team, URGO 3 peaks team, Coloplast team and the BioMonde duo. The support you give is invaluable and we couldn’t do our work without you.

We continue to need this support, ever more in fact, as WC4H grows and offers more clinical care so does the demand on our finances.

If you would like to help please get in touch jenny@woundcare4heroes.org.uk or visit www.woundcare4heroes.org.uk

I am so pleased with the event... I’ve been overwhelmed by the comments and feedback that delegates, exhibitors and speakers have expressed.

Jenny Lewis.