About the service
Based at Alton Community Hospital, we provide specialist assessment, care and management for people across mid and north Hampshire with leg ulcers.
We work closely with other healthcare professionals involved in our patients care, such as GPs and community nurses, and can also provide specialist advice to these colleagues about leg ulcer treatment and management.
What we do
- Assess the cause of the leg ulcer
- Plan care for patients with new leg ulcers
- Undertake doppler assessments (to check blood circulation) of new, chronic or healed leg ulcers.
- On-going care and management of venous leg ulcers.
- Holistic care of all patients with leg ulcers
Accessing the service
We assess and manage patients with a non-healing leg wound of two weeks duration or more. Your GP or nurse can refer you to us for treatment. You can also self-refer directly to us.
How to find us
Alton Clinic
Alton Community Hospital
Chawton Park Road
Alton
Hampshire
GU34 1RJ
Contact information
Email address
An ulcer is a wound on your foot or leg that takes more than two weeks to heal.
The most common type of leg ulcer is known as a venous leg ulcer. These are caused by poor blood flow in the veins in the legs, returning blood back to the heart.
Other types of leg ulcers include arterial (caused by poor blood supply to the legs due to a narrowing of the arteries) and mixed ulcers, also brought about by poor blood flow as well as additional factors such as diabetics and lymphoedema.
Factors that increase the risk of leg ulcers include:
• varicose veins
• drug misuse
• diabetes
• obesity
• heart disease
• hypertension
• family history
• rheumatoid arthritis
• trauma
• deep vein thrombosis
• age
• lifestyle choices
• Wash and moisturise your legs daily.
• If you develop a wound to your leg or foot, please see your GP or practice nurses as soon as possible.
• Wear prescribed compression bandages or hosiery as directed by your nurse and leave dressing changes to your nurse.
• Wear comfortable, well-fitted shoes that will accommodate your bandages and not dig into any swollen areas causing further trauma to your feet.
• When sitting, keep your feet elevated and exercise your ankles and feet to reduce swelling and allow the blood to circulate to the ulcer to aid healing.
• Eat a healthy, well balanced diet to ensure plenty of vitamins and minerals to support healing.
• Keep active by walking to prevent the symptoms of feet, ankle and leg swelling.
• Check your feet and legs daily for any breaks in the skin.