Burns centre staff share their expertise at international conference

Staff from the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery have been sharing their expertise with professionals from all over the world as it approaches its 30^th anniversary.

The centre at Morriston Hospital, one of the largest and busiest in Europe, provides specialist care to more than 1,000 people every year, half of whom are children, and treats more than 6,500 people who need plastic surgery, often following trauma, infection and cancer.

Its work and reputation saw seven members of the centre being invited to the British Burns Association’s annual conference, which this year twinned with the International Society for Burns Injuries to mark its 20^th conference.

The group included five medical staff, a therapist and nurse. They gave presentations to attendees after papers they submitted were selected to share with fellow experts.

The event also saw advanced clinical nurse specialist Louise Scannell appointed the lead for nurses working in the field of burn care throughout the UK and Ireland. The position is the association’s second lead appointment from Swansea Bay UHB, with advanced practitioner occupational Therapist Janine Evans heading the association’s therapists’ group.

Louise said: “My presentation was about how we maintain standards with so few paediatric burns nurses, and how do we continue to recruit, train and develop such specialist nurses. 

“It was a wonderful opportunity to represent nursing and present our work to burn care professionals from around the world. 

“And of course it was an honour to be appointed the nurse lead for the association for the whole of the UK.”

Other topics presented at the conference included a burns centre case review of domestic violence during the pandemic; the laser treatment of burn scars and use of technologies like ultrasound to accurately measure scar thickness, and potential complications; a study of severe burns from sunbed tanning; and the treatment of burnt feet.

Clinical Director of Burns Service Jeremy Yarrow said: “I am immensely proud of the team. To have seven outstanding pieces of work showcased on the international stage to colleagues from around the world is an outstanding achievement.

“I would also like to acknowledge that it is wonderful to have presentations not only from the medical team but from the whole burns multidisciplinary team. Well done all, excellent work and commitment to our service.”

Consultant Sarah Hemington-Gorse added: “It is fabulous to see so much representation from the burns multidisciplinary team who have all worked hard to share their clinical experience and knowledge with the wider burns community.  

“We are very privileged to have an amazing team working within burns in the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery. It is wonderful to see their work being acknowledged and shared.”

In addition to sharing their knowledge, the conference was also an opportunity to gain exposure and learn about some of the reconstructive surgery being performed on major burns patients worldwide.

Trainee surgeon in burns and plastics Michaela Paul said: “The ISBI/BBA conference was an excellent opportunity to learn more about burns and how it affects our colleagues and their patients differently around the world.

“I thoroughly enjoyed contributing to the burns epidemiology poster session on the final day of the conference and found the experience to be very educational.”

Earlier this month, then Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Mark Drakeford, announced £7.7 million to upgrade the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery as it marks its 30^th anniversary.

Pictured inset: Louise Scannell