Pressure ulcer prevention is an example of essential nursing care that should always be prioritised because of its vital role in patient well-being. The recent death of a woman in a care home linked to an untreated ulcer highlights the issue. Columnist and retired nurse Jane Bates explains how the ‘back round’, once considered a mainstay of preventative practice, is now considered outdated. More than 700,000 people in the UK are affected by pressure ulcers, with even some high-risk patients receiving minimal care. In a time of cost-cutting, evidence-based pressure ulcer prevention must never stop being a priority.