European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel

As we approach the 10th EPUAP conference, I feel it is an opportune moment to look backwards at where we started and forwards to this year’s conference. It is interesting to note that in 1997 we were pleased to welcome Dr Andrew Salzberg, the then President of the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) to share the American Experience with us. In 1997 we were also focussed on our pressure ulcer guidelines, which have subsequently very successful and have been translated into many different European languages, thanks to the hard work of many of EPUAP Trustees.

Ten years on and we will again be welcoming the NPUAP President Dr Joyce Black and other members of NPUAP to the conference. This time much of the focus of our collaboration will be outside the conference on our joint Pressure Ulcer Guideline work. As both societies were conscious that their individual guidelines were very dated, it seemed an opportune time to collaborate and produce joint guidelines. This is an exciting and challenging venture and we hope that members of both societies will become engaged in the process. More information can be found in Katrien Vanderwee’s paper in this issue of the EPUAP Review and also on our website: www.pressureulcerguidelines.org.

An important aspect of any conference is the science to underpin clinical practice. This year will be no different and the programme indicates some interesting sessions and I hope there will be plenty of debate around the topics on offer. As well as learning more about developments in Europe and USA there will also be an opportunity to learn more about pressure ulcer activity in Japan. Professor Ohura, the Secretary General of the Japanese Society for Pressure Ulcers and other members of the society will providing a unique opportunity to learn more about the great strides that have been made in Japan in the last few years.

So it only remains for me to say that this has been an exciting ten years and EPUAP has come a long way in that time. I hope that the next ten years will be just as exciting. In the meantime, when all the conference delegates expect to be enjoying Oxford and all it has to offer in some of the social events around the conference, I just hope that we will have good weather for that evening boat trip with the jazz band!

Carol Dealey

President Elect