2.3 Tissue Viability - Our Shared Responsibility | Melanie Stephens, University of Salford

2.3 Tissue Viability - Our Shared Responsibility | Melanie Stephens, University of Salford

From Martina Tierney Podcast by Martina Tierney

February 18, 2026 · 52 min

About this episode

In this episode, Dr. Melanie Stephens discusses the shared responsibility of tissue viability in healthcare and the importance of patient advocacy.

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, I sit down with Dr Melanie Stephens, Tissue Viability Nurse and Associate Professor, to explore a topic that belongs to all of us in healthcare.Tissue viability is not just about mattresses or dressings. It is about posture, pressure, advocacy and the responsibility we carry every single day to protect dignity.This is a powerful and honest conversation about interprofessional working, 24-hour care, prevention over blame and the courage it takes to speak up for a patient.Melanie shares the story of a 19-year-old young man whose final wish was simply to go home and die in his mother’s arms. It is a moment that reminds us why we must sometimes ask the difficult question, and have the courage to act on the answer.🔍 In this episode, we explore:* Why tissue viability is a shared clinical responsibility* The link between posture, seating and pressure injury prevention* The importance of understanding a patient’s journey, not just their diagnosis* Interprofessional learning and breaking down silos in care* The courage required to advocate for what a patient truly wantsThis episode is about dignity, responsibility and doing the right thing…

People in this episode

Guest: Dr Melanie Stephens

Topics covered

  • tissue viability
  • healthcare responsibility
  • patient advocacy
  • interprofessional working
  • pressure injury prevention

Keywords

  • dignity
  • pressure
  • posture
  • care
  • prevention

Mentioned in this episode

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