Fungating Wounds and Pressure Ulcers - Managing within the Context of Palliative Care

Wednesday 18th March 2026

9:30 am to 4:00 pm

In-person, Spring Room, The Hospice of St Francis HP4 3GW

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Option to attend full day or half day (am or pm)

Who should attend:

Staff involved in the assessment and management of complex wounds within the context of palliative care - may be particularly suitable for nurses working in the community or hospice setting

Course Aims:

To gain knowledge about, and confidence in, managing fungating wounds and pressure ulcers in those approaching end of life

Objectives:

To state principles of good wound care management
To identify the challenges associated with fungating wounds- for the patient, families, carers and staff
To explore what dressings are suitable for promoting comfort of fungating wounds
To use case studies to identify an holistic approach to wound care management
To describe the latest information about pressure ulcer classification
To state what helps with pressure ulcer management, especially in those who are frail or approaching end of life
To explore what dressing are available
To use case studies to identify an holistic approach to pressure ulcer management

NOTE: HCT staff

HCT staff to book their place via ‘CPD Apply’ using this link Staff Hub

Presented by

Lizzie Higgs

Former Tissue Viability Nurse (in conjunction with the Hertfordshire Tissue Viability Team)

Supported by Coloplast (who will demonstrate use of some dressings)

Passionate about the prevention of pressure ulcers and management of cancerous fungating wounds, Lizzie is a retired Clinical Nurse Specialist in Tissue Viability with many years experience in wound and pressure ulcer management.

Pressure ulcers are found in all areas of care, hospital, community and the hospice. The aim is to reduce the incidence and severity of pressure ulcers, and ensure that patients are assessed holistically and are managed correctly.

Fungating wounds are often the forgotten wound. They are challenging for the patient, family, carers, nursing and medical staff. They are life changing and sometimes have a catastrophic outcome.

Lizzie hopes to share her knowledge and experience to help improve the management and care of these patients.

Claire Nicell

Joint Head of Education and Learning

Claire is a Bachelor of Nursing with more than 30 years of clinical experience in many different settings. Throughout her career she has always had a keen interest in teaching and palliative care; so her present role as Lecturer Practitioner is her ideal job!

Her palliative care experience has involved working in hospitals, hospices and as a Community Specialist Palliative Care Nurse. More recently her focus and experience has switched to education. Within Hertfordshire she was part of the ABC project delivering palliative and end of life care to care homes throughout the county and then spent 18 months with the palliative care team at Watford General Hospital implementing The Rose Project (to promote dignity and respect at the end of life).

Claire loves working collaboratively with different colleagues across the social and health care sectors and helping individuals apply the principles of palliative care to their setting to promote excellent palliative care for those they care for.

She keeps her hand in clinically by working with her colleagues in the Community Palliative Care team and supporting a support group for patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis to ensure she practices what she teaches!