NHS to prescribe maggots to sterilise infected wounds

It may sound like medicine more suited to a Dark Age apothecary, but GP's in Wales will today begin prescribing maggots as the best treatment for all types of infected and necrotic wounds.

Following successful pilot programmes, the common maggot was found to sterilise wounds by removing dead tissue from the infected area. Maggots were also found to be more effective and act faster than medicinal alternatives.

In some instances during the pilots, maggot therapy prevented the need for aggressive surgery or even amputation.

Infected wounds such as leg ulcers and diabetic ulcers, cost the NHS an estimated £1 billion a year, and it is hoped that the scheme will lead to massive cost-savings.

And by making the treatment available to patients in their own homes valuable bed space can be freed up, the risk of individuals developing a hospital acquired infection is also removed.

The LarvE programme has been rolled out after being piloted in the treatment of an estimated 20,000 patients in 1,600 centres around the UK.

LarvE, produced by the Biosurgical Research Unit (BRU) in Bridgend, South Wales, is part of the Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust.

(gmcg)