RDNS Silverchain’s wound care service has helped an Adelaide retiree to get back on her feet after a freak accident in her kitchen. Judy Kinter suffered a nasty wound to her lower leg after losing balance and falling off a step ladder while reaching for a high shelf.
- RDNS Silverchain is part of Silverchain Group – Australia’s largest wound care service provider
- Our specialist wound care nurses provide in-home or in-clinic care, using the latest research, technology and treatment methods
- In the last financial year, 750 highly-trained registered nurses and enrolled nurses managed more than 40,000 wounds on 18,285 clients
- Seventy-nine percent (more than 33,000) of all wounds, from all our services, were discharged either healed or nearly healed, where clients could manage themselves.
“My leg was bruised and swollen from my knee all the way down,” she said. “It wasn’t healing really well, and it made simple things like showering and getting shoes on quite difficult,” the South Brighton resident said.
After numerous trips to the GP and four courses of antibiotics, the 73-year-old was referred to RDNS Silverchain’s specialist wound care service.
“Judy first presented with a large wound measuring 8cm x 5cm in size due to the breaking down of the haematoma (blood under the skin),” said Clinical Nurse Deb Hicks, who started treating Judy at RDNS Silverchain’s Daw Park clinic in May.
“Now I am seeing her once a week and she is in compression stockings rather than bandaging layers. She has made great progress and is close to discharge.”
More than half a million Australians suffer chronic wounds every year, costing the health system an estimated $3 billion.
“If a wound has not shown progress in two weeks you should follow it up,” Deb said. “There are many reasons why a wound won’t heal. A specialist nurse can help you understand why, as well as treat it.”
Judy is also urging Australians during Wound Awareness Week, which runs from 17-23 August, not to delay acting on unhealed wounds.
“I am so pleased I was referred to RDNS Silverchain – I wish I had been sooner,” she said. “Going to the wound clinic has been so convenient and now I am can get back to doing the things I love.”