On 24 September 2025, during the EPUAP 2025 Opening Ceremony, EPUAP President Andrea Pokorná, EPUAP President-Elect Tom O’Connor, and EPUAP 2025 Chair Maarit Ahtiala signed the EPUAP Declaration. They presented it to Dr Päivi Sillanaukee, Special Envoy for Health & Well-being of Finland.

This powerful call urges governments and healthcare leaders to recognize pressure ulcer prevention as a key patient safety issue, while supporting education and investing in research.

During the STOP Pressure Ulcers Walk, we also presented the Declaration to Dr Paula Risikko, First Deputy Speaker of the Finnish Parliament. We are pleased to share her message from the STOP PU Walk:

Dear listeners,
On behalf of the Parliament of Finland, I thank the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel for your declaration, which seeks to draw the attention of societal decision-makers to the importance of pressure ulcer prevention.
The subject of your statement is highly significant – for many reasons. Pressure ulcers cause a great deal of suffering. They also cause large costs for society.
Despite advances in healthcare, pressure ulcers remain a serious problem, especially among people with multiple illnesses and those receiving long-term care.
In Finland, it is estimated that 55,000–85,000 patients suffer pressure ulcers each year. The direct annual costs to the public sector amount to approximately 460–920 million euros. It has been estimated that the costs of pressure ulcers are 2–4 % of total healthcare expenses.
Dear experts,
Pressure ulcers can be prevented.
Across Finland, important work has long been carried out to prevent pressure ulcers and to improve their treatment. Much research has also been done. In addition, the education of professionals in the field has been developed in our country.
The national guideline Prevention and Identification of Pressure Ulcers in Adults, prepared by Nursing Research Foundation provides guidance for health and social care professionals.
With the help of the guideline, those at risk of pressure ulcers can be identified, and prevent pressure ulcers. The national guideline serves as a practical tool in institutional care, outpatient care, and home care, and helps to reduce the amount of pressure ulcers.
The guideline also aims to increase awareness among health and social care professionals, teachers and students, as well as the general public, about the prevention and identification of pressure ulcers. This helps to harmonize prevention practices and related education and guidance.
Research, including Finnish studies, has shown that consistent, evidence-based guidelines reduce both the number and severity of pressure ulcers.
Dear experts,
In your declaration, you urge governments and decision-makers to recognize pressure ulcer prevention as a key patient safety issue and to take determined action by integrating evidence-based prevention strategies into national healthcare systems.
You also call for dedicated funding for professional education and scientific research in this field.
As a health scientist, teacher, researcher and nurse, I agree with you – the actions you have identified are needed to reduce the suffering and costs caused by pressure ulcers.
And as a decision-maker – both as a Member of Parliament and as Chair of a regional council – I promise to promote the measures you have proposed here in Finland.
I thank you all for your commitment and for giving your time, knowledge, and expertise to the prevention of pressure ulcers, thereby reducing human suffering.
I also wish you well-being in your own lives.
Thank you for coming to the Parliament of Finland.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr Sillanaukee and Dr Risikko for recognizing the need for action and for their dedication to advancing pressure ulcer prevention.