Burns Service

We are a Regional Burns Unit and take children from as far north as Whitby, across to Hull and south to Chesterfield. We can also take children from across the country if there is a shortage of burns beds.

We can accept patients with burn injuries up to 30% body surface area. We take all types of burn injury including chemical and electrical burns and skin loss conditions, and we have intensive care support if required.

Our dedicated Burns Unit has four cubicles for inpatients, a treatment room and a bathroom. We see ward attenders for dressing changes and various therapies.

Specialist burns team

Luckily serious burn injuries affect a minority of children and in order for staff caring for them to gain experience and to use that experience to benefit burn care, these injuries are treated in Regional Burns Units such as ours where a paediatric burns specialist multidisciplinary team can take care of the child.

All admissions are assessed by a burns nurse, plastic surgeon, occupational therapist and physiotherapist. We also have access to a family liaison nurse, play specialist, hospital school team, dietician, psychologist, chaplaincy team, youth worker, social worker and pharmacist to address specific issues a patient or family may have.

Physiotherapy

The physiotherapy team ensures that children are able to maintain full mobility after a burn injury. Their input is vital during the healing stages of burn care in order to maintain flexibility and movement. Burn injuries are painful and children are often reluctant to move the injured area leading to a variety of potential problems.

The physiotherapy team works with children and parents both as inpatients and during dressing changes, and will continue to see patients until the maximum potential recovery is made.

Occupational therapy

The occupational therapy team works with children as their wounds heal and as the scar matures after healing. This can take up to 18 months and the occupational therapy team will work with the child and their family to ensure the best possible result.

The team uses a combination of scar massage, silicone gels, pressure garments and splints, in order to reduce scarring and any physical restriction caused by it.

Psychology

Often burn injury can be a very traumatic experience, not just for the injured child but for the whole family.

Our psychology team are available to help families deal with the immediate after-effects of the injury such as guilt, pain, flashbacks and worries about the future.

They are also available to families later after the injury has healed to help them deal with other issues such as altered body image, self-esteem issues, treatment compliance etc.

Play specialist and school team

Our play specialist ensures that all our patients are kept occupied with activities suitable for their age group and that their development needs are met during their time as an inpatient.

She also assists nursing and therapy staff during dressings with play therapy and distraction techniques to reduce the distress dressing changes may cause.

Burns Club

Children and families often feel quite isolated following a burn injury. In order to provide some support for both children and parents, the Burns Unit has established an active charity called Theo’s Burns Club.

The Burns Club holds an annual Christmas Party with children’s entertainers and of course a visit from Santa.

We take children for special activity camps, where they are given the opportunity to participate in many activities such as boating, riding, climbing as well as parties and lots of games.

We also plan activity days out including family swim sessions, indoor skiing and indoor climbing. Most of these activities are carried out by Unit staff on a voluntary basis.