Compression bandaging: avoiding pressure damage.

Venous leg ulcers account for a large percentage of the financial and healthcare burden of chronic wounds, they are costly to treat both financially and in nursing time. The prerequisites for any healthcare professional to be able to provide safe, effective compression therapy bandaging for any patient must include knowledge, ability and proven competence. Without such competence the patient is vulnerable to harm and the nurse is open to criticism, disciplinary action by the Nursing and Midwifery Council or even litigation. Pressure damage to patients' skin under compression therapy can occur due to a number of factors and it is the responsibility of a registered nurse to ensure compression bandaging is safely and expertly applied.