John Timmons
John Timmons
Tissue Viability Nurse Grampian Health Services
Clinical Manager of Wounds UK.
Clinically my role is based at Woodend Hospital which is Acute Medicine for the Elderly.
As a Clinical Manager with Wounds UK, I am the Editor of the journal which involves being part of the peer review process for the science articles which we publish and also for presenting a balanced view within the journal.
My role also involves setting up and carrying out trials and evaluations of new products and technologies within the Grampian Area with the support of the wound care industry.
I am also responsible for some of the educational material which we as a company produce and work closely with industry to produce meaningful educational programmes for health care professionals.
Describe your typical work day
My role involves seeing new patients and reviewing the long term patients in all wards (450 beds). Many patients in the Hospital have diabetes with long term diabetic foot disease and other related issues. Depending on the individual we will work with the podiatrist in treating these patients, but with no on-site podiatry, we will provide the majority of care.
Clinical work will include a full assessment, taking images, evaluation of current treatment and commencement of new treatments if required.
Sharp debridement is one treatment which we will carry out regularly.
How did you first become interested in working with the foot in diabetes?
Working for 5 years in a vascular ward and not fully understanding the problems which diabetic patients face lead me to seek more information and improve my skills in this field. Doing a diploma in Clinical Biochemistry I studied the impact of diabetes on the systems and in particular the vascular and neuropathic impact .
Why does this speciality appeal to you as a career choice, and who, if anyone influenced / motivated / guided you in this area of work?
I have been motivated by many individuals and groups, Keith Harding is proof that we can maintain a clinical focus and continue to produce good quality research. Christine Moffatt is a very hard working person who has revolutionised leg ulcer care and I admire the way she sets about changing beliefs.
What have been your best and worst moments working in this area and why?
Best moment was healing the ulcer on a patient using larvae, but had been offered amputation 2 weeks previous. This demonstrated that you have to try everything available at your disposal before resorting to amputation.
Worst moment was all the years I worked with patients who were in pain due to the current thinking, many of whom would have benefited from earlier amputation and reduced numbers of smaller operations which often prolonged the inevitable.
Do you have any coping strategies you can share with us that get you through the worst bits?
No, I’m afraid not, I think that we all bury some things, especially in health care. Ideally team debriefs after these instances may help to diffuse some of the guilt associated with perceived mistakes.
Do you have any new related projects in development at the moment?
We are currently working with a number of negative pressure wound therapy systems which have the potential to improve wound care across the board. Work in diabetic foot disease is at an early stage but there is potentially a huge benefit for these patients.
What do you feel are currently the most challenging issues for people working with foot in diabetes?
The challenges lie in getting enough qualified people in more and more clinics throughout the country and making health authorities realise the extent of the problem. David Armstrong put it very well at Wounds this year when he said ‘I am given $10,000 to carry out an amputation but nothing to prevent them’