Seal-Tight - the first ever product accepted by the NHS for issue on prescription based on formal measurements of the improved Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of users (see link to the left).

With grateful thanks to Professor Patricia Price of the Wound Healing Research Unit, the Cardiff Wound Impact Schedule (CWIS) system was applied across two groups.

The C.W.I.S. is a condition-specific quality of life tool that has been developed at the Wound Healing Research Unit in Cardiff. The tool has undergone extensive piloting to establish the psychometric properties of the tool. Physical Symptoms and Daily Living assess for both the experience of a given symptom and the associated stress experienced by the individual. (1)

The tool is scored in such a way that a high score represents a 'good' HRQoL and a low score represents a 'poor' HRQoL.

“The cost effectiveness of any treatment regime must always be balanced.”

A survey was conducted as part of the Drug Tariff application across 90 centres, chosen at random and conducted by an independent third party covering diabetic foot clinics, leg ulcer clinics and health centres.

The results of this survey of 2,300 patients with chronic leg or foot wounds indicated that 4% of all changes were carried out due to accidental wetting after patients had tried to bath or shower using plastic bags, Clingfilm and even condoms.

In the case of prescribing a Seal-Tight, the actual cost of the product to the NHS is literally as little as one seventh of the all-in cost of a single dressing change. (3)

Since its launch on prescription across the UK, not a single instance of leakage has been reported.

In the simplest of terms that means that every product will pay for itself in a few weeks and thereafter, it will continue to save that cost time and time again. Quite literally, the more that are prescribed, the greater the net savings for the Trust budgets.

Additionally, nearly 20% of centres used volunteered awareness of actual patient injury caused by slipping while trying to protect their dressings.

What was also discovered in the survey was that the incidence of patients who elected not to inform their clinician after the dressing became wet was even higher. By allowing the dressings to dry out in situ, patients are at real risk of maceration, adherence of material to the wound bed and infection, any and all of which will set the healing process back considerably.

Seal-Tight is completely latex free. The non-slip surface ensures no accidents on wet floors. Application and removal is simple, even for patients with limited dexterity. It is manufactured to the highest quality standards, is durable and will last for several months even with daily use and of course, it is 100% waterproof.

It is extremely straightforward to size and is available from any pharmacy in the UK.. The Seal-Tight models available on prescription are a subset of the retail range, which comprises 14 models to suit arms & legs, both children & adults

The Control Group above had no experience of Seal-Tight but the second group had the benefit of the product. As can be seen, a dramatic increase in scores for the Seal-Tight group illustrates that being able to maintain hygiene by being able to bath and shower has an impact well beyond the physical.

Research has shown that up to 40% of patients suffering from a diabetic foot ulcer could be clinically depressed. (2)

(1) Bullinger M. Indices versus profiles; advantages and disadvantages. In S R Walker and R M Rosser (eds) Quality of life Assessment: Key issues in the 1990s. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic 1993. Price P, Harding K G (1993) Defining quality of life. Journal Wound Care 2 (5) 304 - 306.
(2) Diabetes Care ; June 2007, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS); July 2004)
(3): Netton A, Curtis L (2004) Unit Costs of Health and Social Care. Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Kent)