Article published in autumn 2026 edition of Forward Magazine by Spinal Injuries Association.
The text is given below for ease of reading.
In a 2020 Forward article we looked at wound-treatment, Amicapsil and the incredible results some of our members were experiencing when using it. At the time it wasn’t available on the NHS but has since been adopted onto the NHS Supply Chain. Here Karen Biggs, SIA Spinal Cord Injury Specialist Nurse, explores the ongoing realities of accessing Amicapsil and what more needs to be done to make it available to the people who need it the most.
See also Steve’s story, how Amicapsil has helped living with wounds and osteomyelitis.
What is Amicapsil and how does it work?
Amicapsil-SCI is a medical device, developed by Willingsford Healthcare.
It’s a natural wound-care powder, developed to help treat complex wounds and pressure ulcers, particularly in people living with a spinal cord injury.
Amicapsil is used by washing out a wound using only plain water and then applying the dry, white, odourless powder. The wound is then gauzed and taped. It works by gently drawing dead tissue cells, toxins, enzymes and excess fluid away from the wound through a process known as capillary-evaporation. Amicapsil works to maintain a stable moisture level on the wound surface, so if the wound is too wet or too dry, it reduces or increases the moisture levels underneath the powder accordingly. It uses the body’s own immune system and healthy bacteria to heal the wound.
What are its benefits for people living with SCI/CES?
People living with a spinal cord injury/CES know all too well that skin damage and pressure ulcers are an ever-present risk and are one of the major complications of injury. Regular skin checks and pressure relief are essential, but even with the best prevention strategies, pressure ulcers can still develop, the costs of which are enormous, impacting on every aspect of a person’s life. They often require long periods of bed rest, increase the risk of secondary complications, decrease the likelihood of being able to engage in community, work, social activities, increase care needs leading to a lower quality of life and reduce independence. So, effective treatment is crucial to stop the wound.
In 2024 SIA published a study by Damian Smith and Mark Ridler which found that Amicapsil was able to fully heal all acute and chronic pressure injuries. In comparison, standard methods only heal 17% of acute stage 3 pressure injuries and take much longer to do so. If the wound was caused by osteomyelitis (a bone infection), Amicapsil controlled the wound and reduced many of the consequences of the bone infection such as repeated episodes of sepsis and severe AD. (The link to that article can be found at the bottom of this article).
Other benefits of Amicapsil include:
- No enforced bedrest, allowing the person to remain active
- It is easy to apply to one’s self or by a partner/carer/PA etc and so treatment can be carried out at home or on holiday.
- It reduces AD and spasms often triggered by wound pain
- It won`t cause antibiotic resistance
- It closes wounds that are infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria
Forward magazine had an article on Amicapsil back in 2020. At the time it was not available on the NHS – why is that?
In the UK, a novel medical device is approved by the MHRA if it fulfils the national requirements for efficacy and safety. Amicapsil was approved to these standards (the standards that the NHS adheres to) in 2016 making it available to be purchased. After that approval, the NHS procurement processes focus only on whether a product can provide financial savings to the NHS. In 2020 this financial data was still being collected, therefore, it wasn`t available on the NHS prescription list and if someone wanted access to it, they had to buy it privately. After the publication of that collected financial data in 2024, Amicapsil was, in 2025, placed on NHS Supply Chain.
“We need to raise awareness and help people self-advocate for it.”
Since our original article Amicapsil has become available on the NHS Supply Chain, does that mean everyone can now get access to it?
It’s not quite that straight forward unfortunately.
Now being available via the NHS Supply Chain, hospitals and their local procurement departments can order Amicapsil. Hospitals can only provide Amicapsil to patients still in their care and at home but only for as long as formal discharge has not occurred.
Being able to access Amicapsil in community is a key issue for many with SCI/CES and, unfortunately, it is not yet available as a standard, routine prescription at local GP surgeries.
The application for Amicapsil’s inclusion on the NHS community care reimbursement list (also called Drug Tariff or FP10) is still being processed. Once approved, GPs will be able to prescribe it. One important benefit of inclusion on NHS Supply Chain is that district nurses will now acknowledge that Amicapsil is accepted by the NHS and be willing to support its use in community care, but availability is lacking behind.
It sounds like there is still more to be done in terms of getting Amicapsil to the people who need it the most?
Yes, there is still more to be done. We need to raise awareness and help people self-advocate for it. I recently supported a member who had suggested Amicapsil during a conversation with a consultant at a spinal unit. They were prepared to explain the benefits of using it, but it was quickly dismissed before they were given the opportunity to.
It’s crucial that SCI Consultants and healthcare professionals are updated about it. SIA has no affiliation to Amicapsil and in no way benefits from them financially, but we have supported research and petitions to raise awareness of the benefits of it for the SCI community because we see the results it has for our members. We will continue to support the work on this and help raise awareness of Amicapsil to all. SIA will support its availability on the NHS, so that clinicians supporting those with a SCI and skin issues can make informed choices.
Further information
To read the full 2024 SIA study go to: frontiersin.org/journals/rehabilitation-sciences/articles/10.3389/fresc.2024.1386518/full.
To find out more about Amicapsil go to: willingsford.com