Sylvie Hampton

About Sylvie Hampton

Sylvie Hampton is a powerhouse in wound care—her name is practically synonymous with innovation, education, and fierce advocacy in tissue viability. Here's a quick snapshot of her remarkable journey:

Qualifications:

2002     MA Nursing Studies, University of Brighton.
1999     ENB 19 Leg ulcer course, Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust.
1996     BSc (Hons)  Nursing Studies, University of Brighton
1994     DpSN Nursing Studies, University of Brighton
1991     ENB 998 Teaching & Assessing, Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust.
1990     RGN, Eastbourne School of Nursing. 

Clinical Trailblazer

Sylvie has been immersed in wound care since the early 1990s, first making waves as a Research and Tissue Viability Nurse at Eastbourne DGH, where she dramatically reduced pressure ulcer prevalence from 15% to 2.4%. That’s not just impressive—it’s transformative. 

Sylvie founded Wound Healing Centres UK Ltd and Eastbourne Wound Healing Centres, which became internationally recognised hubs of excellence. Doctors and nurses from around the world came to learn from the multidisciplinary team. 

Entrepreneur & Visionary

Prolific Educator & Author

With over 400 articles, two books, and countless book chapters to Sylvie’s name, she shaped the field’s literature and trained generations of nurses and carers. Also serves on editorial boards and as a peer reviewer for major journals.

Sylvie’s work as an Expert Witness spans courts, coroners, the NMC, and NHS Trusts, with over 400 reports written. She brings clinical precision and legal insight to the most complex cases.

Medico-Legal Expert

Global Speaker & Consultant

From Dubai’s Arab World Health Conference to UK study days, her voice has resonated across continents. She also consults for the Lindsay Leg Club Foundation, consulted for Newham Hospital, SLAM, DoH and has helped shape national standards by lecturing and setting education in universities.

In 2024 Sylvie was awarded the prize as one of the Top Ten nurses in the World by Aster Guardians out of 78.000 nurses from 203 countries. 

Her passion for wound care is absolute.

Tissue Viability Nursing:

  • 2024 Won an award as one of the top ten nurses in the World

  • 2011 Team of the Year: Nursing in Practice Awards

  • 2011 Runner up in Dermatology Nursing Award: British Journal of Nursing

  • 2011 Tissue Viability Nursing Award: British Journal of Nursing Awards

  • 2007 Wounds UK Highly Commended Award 

  • 2006 Wounds UK Highly Commended Award 

  • 2005 Wounds UK Highly Commended Award 

  • 2005 British Journal Award in Wound Care 

  • 1990 Dr Emslie Prize for Compassionate Nursing

 

  • Trish and Sylvie have been responsible for setting up and running education for nurses and for companies throughout the UK for over 13 years.

  • 2010    Organised the 1st conference for nurses ‘Prove It’ reviewing research and need for evidence based nursing – how that may be achieved.

  • 1999     Organised the 1st Bulgarian Wound Management Conference in Sofia, Bulgaria.

  • 1999     Tissue Viability Conference, South of England Show Ground.

  • 1998     Tissue Viability Conference, South of England Show Ground.

  • 1997     Tissue Viability Conference, Herstmonceux Castle.

  • 1995 to 1999  Organiser of 18 tissue viability study days at Eastbourne NHS Trust.

Sylvie Hampton is a distinguished tissue viability specialist with over 30 years’ experience in wound care, more than 20 of those as a Tissue Viability Consultant. She combines deep clinical expertise, service development, education and medico‑legal practice to prevent and treat complex wounds, improve organisational practice, and support system‑level learning from adverse outcomes.

Career highlights

  • Led tissue viability services at Eastbourne District General Hospital, responsible for trust‑wide wound care and pressure ulcer prevention.

  • Achieved a reduction in pressure ulcer incidence from 15% to 2.4% through clinical leadership, education and targeted investment in pressure‑relieving equipment.

  • Designed and delivered in‑hospital and community education programmes, study days and national conference teaching; proceeds were reinvested to purchase pressure‑relieving mattresses and equipment.

  • Founded Tissue Viability Consultancy, which later evolved into Pioneer Wound Healing Centres following successful transfer.

  • Established Wound Care Consultants Ltd 12 years ago to continue specialist clinical practice, provide nurse education and deliver high‑quality patient care.

  • Extensive track record of clinical evaluation and innovation, including healing chronic wounds of many years’ duration and developing practical, evidence‑based wound management pathways.

 

Expert witness and medico‑legal work

  • Regularly instructed as an Expert Witness for pressure ulcers and wound care, providing detailed medico‑legal reports and courtroom testimony.

  • Uses case work to identify systemic failings and to recommend pragmatic, patient‑centred improvements in clinical governance, training and policy.

  • Balances rigorous clinical appraisal with clear, well‑structured reporting that supports legal and regulatory processes.

  • Has a Team of Expert Witnesses all of whom offer a range of experience.

Teaching, mentorship and impact

  • Passionate educator who values the “AHA!” moment when clinicians grasp practical approaches to wound healing; this remains a central motivator after over three decades in the field.

  • Mentors nurses and HCAs in contemporary wound care practice, skin integrity, pressure prevention and advanced dressing selection.

  • Promotes continuous professional development and audit-driven improvement to sustain long‑term service gains.

Clinical philosophy and strengths

  • Practical, evidence‑based approach: combines long‑term clinical experience with ongoing research and evaluation to produce reliable, replicable outcomes.

  • Patient‑centred and dignity‑focused: prioritises symptom control, skin integrity, nutrition and function to improve quality of life.

  • Systems thinker and change agent: skilled at translating clinical insight into service redesign, education programmes and durable governance frameworks.

  • Resilient problem solver with track record of healing complex, long‑standing wounds and embedding sustainable improvements across hospital and community settings.

Ambitions

Sylvie has a passion to open Wound Healing Centres throughout the UK, to provide online virtual assessments for nurses and clients who self care. Her ambition is to provide wound care to all those with chronic wounds that are not healing in an expected way.

  • Undertook competency training and assessment in leg ulcers for Croydon PCT.

  • Undertook competency training and assessment in leg ulcer training for Greenwich PCT.

  • Researched and interviewed for a band 8 TVN for Greenwich PCT.

  • Acted as consultant to Newham University NHS Hospital Trust over a 6 month period.

  • Acted as Tissue Viability Consultant for South London and Maudsley Trust for 2 years.

  • Set up a service across East Sussex in partnership with the local Provider Service.

  • Set up a service for Newham Hospital.

  • Ran courses and undertook competency assessments for Croydon and Greenwich PCTs.

  • Assisted with finding a specialist nurse to run a service at Greenwich PCT.

  • Set up a wound care service in Horsham, Crawely, Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill.

Clinical research and trials

Sylvie Hampton has led clinical evaluations, case studies and randomised controlled trials as part of her role as a Tissue Viability Consultant. These projects deepened her clinical insight and enabled her to share validated outcomes with peers and services, improving practice and patient outcomes.

How this benefits Wound Care Consultants

  • Evidence led development — we use clinical findings to inform practical product improvements and service design.

  • Rigorous evaluation — our team can design and deliver high‑quality case studies and clinical evaluations, and provide expert support for externally run randomised controlled trials.

  • Knowledge translation — trial results and evaluation data are translated into clear recommendations, protocols and training for clinicians.

  • Independent assurance — we assess whether new products actually do “what they say in the tin” and report outcomes in ways that commissioners, clinicians and manufacturers can trust.

What we can do for you

  • Design and run clinical evaluations and case studies.

  • Provide protocolled data collection and expert clinical input.

  • Offer statistical collation and reporting through our Data Analyst.

  • Support externally led randomised controlled trials in an advisory or site support role.

  • Translate findings into guidance, training and implementation plans.

Contact

For project enquiries, product evaluation or trial support, please contact Sylvie Hampton or a member of the Wound Care Consultants team via the Contact page.

Expert witness experience

Wound Care Consultants, led by Sylvie Hampton, bring extensive, high‑level expert witness experience across criminal, coronial, regulatory and civil matters.

Types of cases handled

  • Criminal — manslaughter investigations for police forces.

  • Coronial — post‑mortem review and expert opinion for coroners in Eastbourne, Hastings and Brighton regarding deaths where pressure ulcer complications were suspected.

  • Regulatory — cases for the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

  • Litigation — more than 250 medico‑legal cases instructed by solicitors.

  • Crown Prosecution — expert support for prosecutorial decision making and court preparation.

  • Police investigations — including complex suspicious wounding enquiries (Manchester Police).

  • Professional defence — independent assessment and expert reporting in cases where clinicians face allegations of malpractice.

  • Commissioned service reviews — investigations for healthcare organisations such as Primary Care Trusts into pressure ulcer causation and system failures.

Typical deliverables

  • Detailed, evidence‑based expert reports suitable for police, coroners’ courts, regulatory bodies and civil proceedings.

  • Chronologies and contemporaneous record analysis.

  • Independent clinical opinion on causation, prevention, standards of care and causative factors.

  • Courtroom testimony and witness preparation.

  • Recommendations for practice, policy and system improvement.

  • Causation and Liability.

  • Condition and Prognosis.

  • When was the pressure ulcer commenced.

Approach and strengths

  • Forensic clinical rigour — methodical review of records, imaging and clinical practice against accepted standards.

  • Clear, authoritative reporting — reports written for non‑clinical audiences while retaining clinical precision.

  • Multidisciplinary insight — draws on a network of experienced clinicians and services to corroborate findings.

  • Practical recommendations — focuses on prevention, system change and learning to reduce recurrence.

  • Unbiased view on any case.

Outcomes and value

  • Informed criminal and coronial investigations.

  • Robust evidence for regulatory decisions and litigation.

  • Constructive recommendations that support service improvement, risk reduction and clearer clinical governance.

  • Over 400 cases undertaken.

Contact

For expert witness instructions, case scoping or fee estimates, please contact Sylvie Hampton or a member of the Wound Care Consultants team via the Contact page.

Publications and written work

Books

  • Tissue Viability — approximately 300,000 words, Whurr Publications, London (2004).     

  • Co‑author, A‑Z Dictionary of Wound Care — Quay Books, Mark Allen, Dinton.

Book chapters and booklets

  • Author of chapters in three edited books on tissue viability.

  • Author of three clinical booklets on tissue viability.

  • Author of a specialist chapter on Skin maceration.

Journal articles and regular writing

  • Author of over 400 articles for professional journals (complete list available as a PDF).

Availability

  • For a full publication list, copies, permissions or speaking requests based on published material, please contact Sylvie Hampton or a member of the Wound Care Consultants team via the Contact page.

 

A complete listing of my published works is available in this PDF.

Sylvie continues to present at major wound care conferences:

  • 2016   Arab World Health Conference, Dubai.
  • 2013   Poster Presentation, European Wound Management Conference.

  • 2012   Harrogate European Wound Management Conference.

  • 2012   Poster Presentation, European Wound Management Conference.

  • 2011   Attend European Wound Management conference as speaker at 2 sessions .

  • Co-organiser of 20 study days in tissue viability with Tissue Viability Consultancy Services.

  • 2008   5 posters at Wounds UK Conference in Harrogate.

  • 2007   4 posters at EWMA conference, Glasgow.

  • 2006   Poster presentations x 5 Stuttgart 2005.

  • 2005   Poster presentations x 3 and 2 lectures at EPUAP conference, Aberdeen.

  • 2004   Poster presentation, Paris.

  • 2004   Poster presentation, TVS Conference, Torquay.

  • 2004   Irish Wound Management Association evening lecture, Dublin.

  • 2004   Poster presentation, Paris Conference.

  • 2004   Poster presentation, TVS Conference, Torquay.

  • 2003   Irish Wound Management Association Conference, Cork. 

  • 2003   Poster presentation European Wound Management Conference, Finland.

  • 2001   Wound care conference, Durban, South Africa.

  • 2000   Poster presentation European Wound Management Conference, Cardiff.

  • 1999   Poster Presentation, European Wound Management Conference, Cardiff.

  • 1998   Workshop, Madrid European Wound Management Conference.

  • 1997   Harrogate European Wound Management Conference.

  • 1997   Poster Presentation, European Wound Management Conference, Milan.

  • 1997   Copenhagen European Tissue Repair Society Conference.

  • 1996   Harrogate European Wound Management Conference.

  • 1996   Poster Presentation, European Wound Management Conference, Amsterdam.

  • 1996   Harrogate European Wound Management Conference.

  • 1995   Harrogate European Wound Management Conference.

 

Sylvie has been an invited lecturer for:

  • University of Portsmouth

  • University of Brighton

  • University of Hertfordshire

  • Cape Canaveral Hospital, Florida

  • Tissue Viability Study Day, Lewisham Hospital

  • Tissue Viability Study Day, Ipswich

  • Speaker for the Tissue Viability Society

  • Tissue Viability Study Day, Beneden Hospital

  • Tissue Viability Course, Chichester NHS Trust

  • Tissue Viability Course, Brighton

  • Speaker for the Tissue Viability Society annual conferences

  • Lecturer for University of Brighton Nursing Student Course

Sylvie also set up and ran the Tissue Viability Foundation Degree Course for Sussex Downs College and University of Brighton.