THE amount of patients in community hospitals in Worcestershire suffering from bedsores has continued to increase.

A report presented to a meeting of the governing board of Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust on Wednesday, March 12 showed 157 bed sores – or pressure ulcers – were recorded in January, up from 141 the previous month.

The amount of bedsores recorded by the trust – which runs mental health services in the county as well as community hospitals in Evesham, Malvern, Pershore and elsewhere in the county – has increased steadily over the past 12 months, with only 76 reported in February 2013.

Speaking at the meeting at Worcester’s County Hall, board member Sandra Brennan said staff were doing everything they could to bring down the trend.

“We are seeing an increase in unavoidable pressure ulcers where we’ve done everything we possibly can but the patients have still developed them,” she said.

She added the figures were at least partially down to a new method of data recording, saying: “From my professional experience I think these will begin to come down very soon.”