Dr Tom Defloor

THE Ninth EPUAP meeting in Berlin was a real success. The quality of the oral presentations and the posters was high. Even more important were the mutual exchanges of experiences and the networking. The main objective of these meetings is to return to clinical practice with new ideas and new energy. The responses and the comments we received showed that the meeting in Berlin achieved that objective. Cum laude.

The planning of the next meeting has already begun and EPUAP will return to her roots: Oxford. It will be an important key moment in the history of the EPUAP. The main focus of the EPUAP has always been to improve current practice concerning pressure ulcers, while realising that this is not a simple task. We are very well aware of that.

A ready-made, simple answer does not exist, rather multiple approaches are needed. In addition to the meetings several guidelines, statements and educational tools have been developed over the years. However, new insights and research require the development of new, more extensive evidence-based guidelines. This is a major project, without doubt. The EPUAP has decided to start up this project and is taking the lead in formulating prevention guidelines, whilst the NPUAP is developing treatment guidelines, with both societies working collaboratively. It is hoped to finalise the guidelines in 2008. This is a tough target but we are going for it anyway. However, achieving this is only possible through the efforts of many people.

A steering committee consisting of Carol Dealey, Michael Clark, Lisette Schoonhoven, Anne Witherow and myself will direct this project. It will be managed by the trustees who have agreed to actively participate in this undertaking.

However, it is very important that members of the EPUAP also take part and this, therefore, is an appeal to all those who are interested in participating. Depending on their interests, people can join one of the working groups as active participating members or as stakeholders, reviewing the draft version of texts. Candidates may register an interest with the EPUAP Business Office or via the website.

Support is also needed from Industry. Without additional financial support the completion of the project is not possible. For this purpose the grants of the EPUAP are too limited. Collection of the literature, organisational support, meetings of the different working groups, distribution of texts, translation, etc., will all require considerable financial support.

Thus, 2007 will be an important year for the EPUAP. It is a big challenge, but a feasible one if we all actively support it.

Tom Defloor
President