25/01/2024
Burns are among the most challenging and complex injuries to treat, often requiring highly specialised medical attention and a prolonged recovery journey. In the United Kingdom, dedicated burns services play a crucial role in providing this expert care, from immediate critical intervention to long-term rehabilitation. These units are meticulously designed to cater to the unique needs of patients, ensuring a holistic approach to healing that encompasses physical, psychological, and social well-being. Understanding the structure, capacity, and operational procedures of such services is paramount for patients, their families, and referring healthcare professionals.
One such exemplary service is located at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, which houses both an Adult Burns Centre and a Paediatric Burns Unit. This facility stands as a testament to the commitment to providing top-tier burns care, leveraging a vast array of medical expertise and state-of-the-art facilities. The complexity of burns treatment necessitates a highly coordinated effort, and this service exemplifies a model of integrated care, ensuring that every aspect of a patient's recovery is addressed with precision and compassion.
- The Adult Burns Centre: Capacity and Comprehensive Care
- The Paediatric Burns Unit: Specialist Care for Younger Patients
- The Multidisciplinary Team: A Holistic Approach to Healing
- Navigating Your Visit: Guidelines and Restrictions
- Contact and Referral Information
- Frequently Asked Questions About Burns Care
The Adult Burns Centre: Capacity and Comprehensive Care
The Adult Burns Centre at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is strategically located on the 5th Floor, accessible via Lift Bank B. This dedicated unit is equipped to handle a range of burn severities, from critical cases requiring intensive monitoring to patients in various stages of recovery and those needing outpatient assessment. The unit’s capacity is carefully structured to accommodate these diverse needs, ensuring that appropriate levels of care are always available.
Specifically, the Adult Burns Centre comprises a total of sixteen beds, thoughtfully distributed to optimise patient flow and specialised care:
| Bed Type | Number of Beds | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Intensive Care Beds | 2 | These beds are reserved for patients with the most severe and life-threatening burns, who require continuous monitoring, advanced life support, and highly specialised medical interventions. The focus here is on stabilising critical conditions and managing immediate threats to life. |
| High Dependency Beds | 2 | Following initial stabilisation or for patients with serious but non-critical burns, these beds provide an intermediate level of care. Patients in high dependency units (HDU) require close observation and more intensive nursing care than general ward patients, but do not yet need the full scope of intensive care support. |
| Ward Beds | 9 | The majority of patients in the Adult Burns Centre will transition to or be admitted directly into one of the nine general ward beds. These beds cater to patients who are stable but still require ongoing medical treatment, wound care, pain management, and preparation for rehabilitation. This environment supports recovery in a less intensive setting, fostering a sense of normalcy where possible. |
| Day-Case Beds | 3 | These beds are specifically allocated for patients who require assessment, minor procedures, or specific treatments that do not necessitate an overnight stay. This facility is crucial for follow-up appointments, dressing changes, or initial assessments that can be completed within a single day, significantly aiding in outpatient management and reducing the need for full admissions. |
| Total Adult Beds | 16 | Comprehensive capacity to address various stages of adult burn injury and recovery. |
Accessing the Adult Burns Centre is strictly by referral. Patients cannot simply walk in. A referral from a healthcare professional, such as a General Practitioner (GP), a local Accident & Emergency (A&E) department, or a minor injuries unit, is mandatory. Once a referral is obtained, the referring professional will contact the burns service to arrange an appointment. This structured referral system ensures that patients receive appropriate initial assessment and that the specialist burns team is prepared for their arrival, optimising efficiency and patient safety. For any burn injury requiring medical treatment, the first step should always be to consult a GP or attend the nearest A&E or minor injuries unit.
The Paediatric Burns Unit: Specialist Care for Younger Patients
Recognising the unique physiological and psychological needs of children with burns, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital also operates a dedicated Paediatric Burns Unit. This unit is situated on the 1st Floor, at the front of the hospital, with easy access from Lift Bank B or the escalators, providing a child-friendly environment conducive to healing.
The paediatric service is co-located on Mars Ward, which includes both inpatient beds and a dedicated dressing clinic. This co-location streamlines care, allowing children to receive comprehensive treatment, including specialist wound care and monitoring, within a familiar and consistent environment. The unit offers High Dependency Unit (HDU) burns care for children who require close monitoring and enhanced support beyond standard ward care.
A critical distinction for paediatric intensive care is that while HDU care is provided on-site, any children requiring full Intensive Care Unit (ICU) support are transferred to the St Andrew’s regional centre in Chelmsford, Essex. This regionalisation of highly specialised ICU services ensures that children with the most critical burns receive the highest level of intensive care available, leveraging the expertise and resources of a dedicated regional centre. This collaborative approach underscores the commitment to providing optimal outcomes for all paediatric burn patients, regardless of the severity of their injury.
The Multidisciplinary Team: A Holistic Approach to Healing
The success of any burns service hinges on the collaborative effort of a highly specialised and multidisciplinary team. The Chelsea and Westminster burns service prides itself on its comprehensive team, which covers every facet of patient care, from acute medical management to long-term rehabilitation and psychological support. This integrated approach ensures that patients receive not just wound care, but a holistic pathway to recovery.
The core team includes:
- Dedicated Burns Consultants: These are the lead clinicians, often specialising in plastic surgery, who oversee the entire treatment plan, making critical decisions regarding surgical interventions and overall patient management.
- Intensivists and Anaesthetists: Crucial for managing critical patients, particularly those requiring intensive care. Intensivists manage life support and complex medical conditions, while anaesthetists ensure pain management during procedures and provide support for surgical interventions.
- Specialist Nurses: The backbone of daily care, specialist burns nurses possess unique expertise in wound management, pain control, infection prevention, and patient education. Their continuous presence at the bedside is vital for monitoring and administering treatments.
- Occupational and Physical Therapists: Essential for physical recovery, these therapists work to restore movement, strength, and function. They design personalised exercise programmes, provide splinting, and assist with activities of daily living, helping patients regain independence.
- Psychologists: Burns can have profound psychological impacts. Psychologists offer crucial support for patients and families, addressing trauma, anxiety, depression, and body image issues, which are critical for mental well-being and long-term adjustment.
- Pharmacists: They manage medication regimens, ensuring safe and effective drug therapy, including pain relief, antibiotics, and other necessary medications.
- Dietitians: Proper nutrition is vital for healing and recovery, especially in burns patients who have high metabolic demands. Dietitians develop tailored nutritional plans to support wound healing and overall health.
- Social Support Team: This team assists with the practical and social challenges that can arise from a burn injury, including liaising with social services, arranging accommodation, and providing emotional support for families.
Beyond the core team, the burns service also has the flexibility to call upon other acute services within the Trust as needed, such as pain management specialists, acute medicine, general surgery, and elderly medicine. This ensures that any co-existing medical conditions or complications are addressed promptly and effectively. Furthermore, a burns outreach service extends care beyond the hospital walls, supporting patients in their transition back home or to other care settings.
For the safety and well-being of all patients, the burns units maintain strict visiting guidelines. These rules are put in place to protect vulnerable patients from infection and ensure a calm and conducive environment for healing.
Visiting hours for both adult and paediatric burns wards are consistent:
- Every day, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
To minimise disruption and maintain a safe environment, a maximum of two visitors are permitted at the bedside at any given time. This limit helps prevent overcrowding and allows nursing staff to perform their duties effectively.
Crucially, children under the age of 12 are strictly not allowed to visit the burns wards at any time. This restriction is a vital infection control measure, as young children can be carriers of common infections that pose a significant risk to burns patients with compromised immune systems. Similarly, fresh flowers and plants are also prohibited in the burns wards due to infection control concerns; they can harbour bacteria and fungi that could be detrimental to patient recovery. Adherence to these rules is not merely a formality but a critical component of patient safety and successful recovery.
Contact and Referral Information
For general enquiries or to facilitate patient referrals, specific contact numbers are provided for both the adult and paediatric services. These lines are crucial for healthcare professionals and patients seeking information regarding appointments or ongoing care.
| Service | Contact Number |
|---|---|
| Adult Burns Unit | 020 3315 2500 |
| Paediatric Burns Unit | 020 3315 3706/3707 |
For clinical referrals, especially from within the NHS, the MDSAS referrals system is utilised. Any clinician with an NHS email can use this system. However, it is imperative that once a referral is made, the burns unit is contacted by phone to discuss the treatment plan. This direct communication ensures that the specialist team is immediately aware of the referral and can prepare for the patient's arrival, facilitating a seamless transition into their care.
Frequently Asked Questions About Burns Care
- How many beds are available in the Adult Burns Centre?
- The Adult Burns Centre has a total of 16 beds: 2 intensive care beds, 2 high dependency beds, 9 ward beds, and 3 day-case beds.
- How many inpatient beds are there in the Paediatric Burns Unit?
- The Paediatric Burns Unit has 6 inpatient beds, co-located with a dressing clinic on Mars Ward.
- Do I need a referral to be seen by the burns service?
- Yes, access to the burns service requires a referral from a healthcare professional such as a GP, local A&E, or minor injuries unit. Walk-in patients without an appointment cannot be accepted.
- Can children visit patients in the burns wards?
- No, children under the age of 12 are not permitted to visit the burns wards at any time due to infection control measures.
- Are fresh flowers and plants allowed in the burns units?
- No, fresh flowers and plants are not permitted as an infection control measure to protect patients from potential infections.
- What kind of team treats patients in the burns service?
- Patients are treated by a comprehensive multidisciplinary team including burns consultants, intensivists, anaesthetists, specialist nurses, occupational and physical therapists, psychologists, pharmacists, dietitians, and a social support team.
- Where is the Adult Burns Unit located?
- The Adult Burns Unit is based on the 5th Floor, Lift Bank B, at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
- Where is the Paediatric Burns Unit located?
- The Paediatric Burns Unit (Mars Ward) is located on the 1st Floor at the front of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, accessible from Lift Bank B or the escalators.
- What happens if a child needs Intensive Care Unit (ICU) support?
- While the paediatric unit offers HDU care, children requiring full ICU support are transferred to the St Andrew’s regional centre in Chelmsford, Essex, for specialised intensive care.
In conclusion, the burns services at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital exemplify the highest standards of specialised care. With meticulously planned bed capacities, a dedicated multidisciplinary team, and clear operational guidelines, the service ensures that both adult and paediatric patients receive comprehensive, compassionate, and effective treatment. The emphasis on structured referrals, stringent infection control measures, and a holistic approach underscores their commitment to patient safety and optimal recovery outcomes in the challenging field of burns care.
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