Service overview
We are a team of specialist nurses and healthcare assistants who can help with leg ulcers, which are wounds on your lower leg that are slow to heal.
We see patients with venous leg ulcers for wound care management. You may also be referred to us if you're considered at high risk of developing one so that we can carry out an assessment and provide compression hosiery with the aim of reducing this risk.
Accessing our service
To access the Lower Limb Service, a referral must be made by a healthcare professional, usually your GP, practice nurse, district nurse, or podiatrist. Blood tests must be taken before a referral can be accepted.
You will need to be registered with a GP in East Berkshire and:
- have a break in the skin on your lower leg which has not shown signs of healing within two weeks (a venous or mixed aetiology lower leg ulcer)
- have symptoms of venous disease to the extent that venous leg ulcer development is considered very high risk
- able to travel to a clinic independently (we don't offer home visits and, due to a lack of waiting space and scheduling, we cannot accept referrals for patients attending by means of hospital transport)
If we think you are appropriate for assessment by our team, you will receive an appointment letter in the post. We will also contact your GP surgery and inform them that we have accepted your referral and offered an appointment for assessment.
We run clinics at:
- Skimped Hill Health Centre, Bracknell
- Great Hollands Health Centre, Bracknell
- Birch House, Upton Hospital, Slough
- St Mark’s Hospital, Maidenhead
We do not operate on Sunday or Bank Holidays.
Preparing for an assessment
For your first appointment, please wear loose fitting clothing and wide fitting shoes. Your first appointment will last around 90 minutes, during your appointment we will carry out tests.
We will carry out a Doppler assessment which uses ultrasound waves to assess blood flow to the legs, as most leg ulcers are caused by a lack of blood flow in your veins.
Our first line of treatment is compression therapy. Bandages are applied from toe to knee and follow-up clinic appointments will be once or twice weekly, depending on your needs.
Follow-up appointments will be 30 minutes if you have a leg ulcer on one leg, and 45 minutes if you have ulcers on both legs.
If you are unable to have any form of compression, your condition will be managed by your GP surgery.
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Skimped Hill Health Centre
Lower Limb Service
Contact number: 0118 904 1555 (please leave a message if we can’t answer)
Email: LowerLimbService@berkshire.nhs.uk We will respond to all calls and emails within one working day
Post Address: RG12 1LH
Location detailsFrequently asked questions
How do I get referred?
You will need to see your GP first. If they feel you would benefit from our service, they can refer you to us.
Do you offer regular check‑ups?
Yes, we aim to see patients every six months. However, if you develop a new wound, you will need to see your GP first, and if appropriate, you will be re‑referred to our service. The six‑monthly review only applies to the wounds you were originally referred to us for.
We can also help you with
Is there any information for friends, family and carers?
If you’re a family member, carer, or you look after someone, there’s practical, financial, and emotional support available from a range of local communities and national organisations.
How do I request an interpreter?
We can provide language translation and interpretation support.
Tell our staff which language you prefer to use, and we will make sure the right communication support is in place for your assessment and treatment. Please let us know as early as possible so we can ensure the appropriate translation or interpreting support is available.
We offer a range of professional services to ensure everyone can understand and be understood:
- Telephone interpreting
- Video remote interpreting (VRI)
- Face‑to‑face interpreting
- Written translation
- British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting
How can I get information in an accessible format?
Anyone with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss has the right to receive information in a format that meets their needs.
Under the Accessible Information Standard (AIS) – a legal requirement for all health and adult social care providers – we must ensure that people who use our services, including carers and families, can understand the information we provide and communicate effectively with us.
We can offer information in a range of accessible formats, including:
- British Sign Language (BSL)
- Large print
- Braille
- Audio
- Easy read
- Text message
- Face‑to‑face support with a carer or advocate present
If you need information in any of these formats, please tell a member of our team and we will make sure your communication needs are met.
Are service dogs allowed to my appointment?
Yes, you are welcome to bring your registered service animal, such as a guide dog, hearing dog, medical alert dog, or other trained assistance dog to your appointment.
These animals are recognised as essential support and are permitted in most areas of our services.
To help us prepare, please let the team know before your appointment if you will be attending with a service animal. This allows us to make sure the environment is safe and comfortable for you, your animal, and other patients.
Please note that service animals may not be able to enter certain restricted clinical areas for safety or infection‑control reasons, but we will always work with you to find an appropriate alternative.
What does it mean to treat our team with respect?
Respect is important.
We will be polite and kind and we expect that you treat our staff in the same way.
Abuse, hate and discrimination against our staff is unacceptable.
We will take strong action against anyone who is verbally, racially, physically, or sexually abusive to them.
This may include contacting the police to prosecute, and stopping future access to our healthcare services.
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