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Stop the pressure: how spinal injury patients are misunderstood and mistreated 
It is estimated pressure ulcers cost the NHS about £3.8 million every day and are a particularly dangerous — even deadly — problem for those with spinal injuries. This is why a new awareness campaign has been launched, reports RUTH HUNT
Pressure ulcer points. Red: In supine position. Blue: in side-lying position [Jmarchn/CC]

THIS WEEK, on Thursday November 17, an awareness campaign called Stop the Pressure Day was launched by the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) in order to share advice and campaign for better understanding regarding the devastating physical, mental and financial costs of pressure sores.

The SIA claims failings in specialist knowledge about spinal cord injury in the healthcare sector are preventing early detection of pressure ulcers and this lack of awareness is leading to dangerous and life-threatening consequences such as sepsis, costing lives and the NHS millions.

Sue Mould was injured in January 2015 when she was out jogging and a falling tree branch hit her on the head, leaving her paraplegic and with chronic neuropathic pain.

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