Lower limb health: A growing burden requiring more coordinated collaboration

Author: L&R UK Medical

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Patients should speak with their health care providers about treatment and care options.

Lower limb conditions, particularly those driven by venous insufficiency, lymphatic disease and chronic oedema, represent one of the most persistent and costly challenges facing the UK health system. An ageing population, rising prevalence of long-term conditions and socioeconomic pressures have converged to increase the incidence of leg ulcers and chronic wounds. It is estimated that over 1 million people in the UK are living with lower limb ulceration, costing the NHS over £3.1 billion annually.¹ The result is a cycle of delayed healing, repeated clinical appointments, reduced quality of life and escalating costs to the National Health Service.

Recent analysis published in Open Access Government² highlights that lower limb wound care remains unnecessarily complex, fragmented and variable across regions. Patients often experience long waits for assessment, inconsistent access to compression therapy and poor continuity between prescriber, dispenser and end user. Yet the evidence is clear: When the right compression is applied early, consistently and correctly, healing rates improve, recurrence falls and overall resource use declines.

This landscape presents both a challenge and an opportunity, particularly for community pharmacies.

Community pharmacy: A vital partner in timely compression care

Community pharmacies are trusted, accessible health care hubs embedded in local neighbourhoods. The rollout of initiatives such as Pharmacy First underscores the NHS’s recognition of community pharmacy as a first point of care to help alleviate pressure on GP practices. In parallel, the pharmacy’s established role in the timely dispensing of compression garments remains critical in enabling early intervention and effective management of lower limb conditions.

Ordering and dispensing medical compression — from hosiery for venous disease to lymphatic management solutions to adjustable wrap systems — should not be a bottleneck in the care pathway. When prescriptions are delayed, listed as out-of-stock or substituted without appropriate consultation, patients are left untreated while symptoms worsen and wounds deteriorate. Every missed day of compression is a missed opportunity for healing.

By maintaining familiarity with commonly prescribed ranges such as Activa® and ActiLymph® compression hosiery, alongside adjustable solutions like ReadyWrap®, pharmacy teams can respond quickly when prescriptions arrive. Efficient stock management, clear communication with prescribers and proactive patient engagement ensures that treatment starts as soon as it is prescribed, rather than weeks later.

For pharmacy managers and owners, this is not simply an operational issue, it’s a clinical one.

Accessibility: Why availability matters as much as prescribing

Compression therapy only works when patients can actually access and use it. Delays caused by fragmented supply chains, unfamiliarity with medical devices or reliance on poorly stocked wholesalers undermine even the best clinical intentions. Patients, many of whom are elderly or have limited mobility, are rarely in a position to “shop around” for solutions. They depend on their pharmacy to get it right first time.

Ensuring consistent availability of compression garments has a tangible impact on the patient journey:

Faster initiation of therapy, reducing pain, swelling and exudate
Improved adherence, when the correct size and product are supplied promptly
Reduced risk of deterioration, infection and recurrence
Greater patient confidence, knowing their pharmacy understands their condition

Community pharmacies can alleviate prescribing delays and challenges by partnering with trusted, well-stocked suppliers. Working with specialist wholesalers such as North West Ostomy Supplies (NWOS) ensures sufficient product availability and supply. Alternatively, purchasing directly from manufacturers such as L&R Medical UK provides assurance of product authenticity, continuity and education around appropriate use, along with further access to expert support.

These supply-side decisions translate directly into patient outcomes. A pharmacy that can reliably source and dispense compression garments becomes a critical enabler of lower limb care, rather than a passive link in the chain.

Leading from the front line: Pharmacists leading better wound care outcomes

Beyond supply, pharmacists play an increasingly important educational role. Simple interventions like checking patient understanding, reinforcing correct application and signposting when reassessment is needed can significantly improve the effectiveness of compression therapy. For patients managing lifelong venous or lymphatic disease, this ongoing support is invaluable.

Thought leadership in this space means recognising that medical devices are not adjuncts, but central to outcomes. Pharmacy teams who invest in training around compression therapy, understand local formularies and build relationships with tissue viability services can elevate their role from dispenser to clinical partner.

A call to action for pharmacy leaders

Lower limb health will remain a major burden in the UK unless coordinated care is streamlined, pathways are simplified, access is improved and delays are removed. Community pharmacy is uniquely placed to help close this gap. By prioritising timely ordering, ensuring accessibility through trusted supply routes and embracing an active role in patient education, pharmacies can materially improve healing journeys for thousands of patients.

For pharmacy managers and owners, the message is clear — compression therapy is not niche; it is core. Investing in knowledge, stock availability and supplier partnerships is an investment in better outcomes, stronger professional relevance and more sustainable care.

References

1. Guest JF, Fuller GW, Vowden P. Cohort study evaluating the burden of wounds to the UK’s National Health Service in 2017/2018: update from 2012/2013. BMJ Open. 2020 Dec 22;10(12):e045253. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045253. PMID: 33371051; PMCID: PMC7757484

2. Mence, A (2024, November 5). A sustainable approach to simplifying lower limb wound care. Open Access Government. https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/a-sustainable-approach-to-simplifying-lower-limb-wound-care/184637/