The Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery at Morriston Hospital, Swansea, has been confirmed as the regional centre of excellence for Wales and the South West of England, Health Minister Edwina Hart has announced.
This follows an extensive evaluation of the services provided at hospitals offering burn care against national burn care standards.
The National Burn Care Group has confirmed Morriston Hospital as the designated specialised centre for adult care. Children will continue to be cared for at Morriston Hospital. However, as is the case now, some children who require highly specialised care and treatment such as intensive care with extended ventilation will be treated at the designated specialised children’s burns centre in Bristol.
Therefore the vast majority of patients with burns will continue to be treated as before, but a small number of adults (up to 10 per year) who would have previously been treated in Bristol and Salisbury will now go to Swansea. It is expected that less than five children will be transferred from Swansea to Bristol.
As part of the Burns Care Network, patients who are transferred to specialised hospitals will return to be cared for at their local hospitals for post treatment and long-term care.
The clinical referrals will improve the quality of care, especially for those requiring the most specialist care, and by working as part of a network, clinicians will be able to maintain skills and expertise.
The Welsh Assembly Government has funded a £10million extension and refurbishment of the Burn Centre in anticipation of its enhanced role.
Mrs Hart said:
“I am extremely pleased that the skills and expertise of staff and facilities at Morriston Hospital have been recognised with the confirmation of its status as regional centre for excellence for burn care.
“The new extension to the centre will help to further enhance its reputation as one of the largest and busiest burns services in Europe treating some 750 patients a year.”
Win Griffiths, Chairman of ABM University Health Board added:
“It is excellent news for our highly skilled and committed Burns and Plastic Surgery staff to be recognised in this way for the top quality burns care they provide.
“I am confident we can meet all the challenges that come with being a regional centre for excellence in Wales and the South West of England.”
Mr William Dickson, Clinical Director of the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, said:
“This is a tribute to the investment by the Welsh Assembly Government and ABM University Health Board, and to the dedicated and highly skilled multidisciplinary team at Morriston Hospital.”
