The Burns Unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) is the Midlands Regional Burns Centre for adults who have sustained burn injuries and is part of the wider Midlands Burn Care Network.

What problems do we treat?

The Physiotherapy team provides comprehensive rehabilitation at all stages of a patient’s recovery following a burn injury. This includes both inpatient and outpatient care following initial burn injury care through to scar reconstructive surgery. Physiotherapy is an integral component of the burns service and is delivered in accordance with the national standards in the management of burn-injured adults.

Burns physiotherapy inpatient service

Typical inpatient treatment aims include:

• promoting recovery on intensive care
• regaining movement, strength and function
• regaining mobility
• improving exercise tolerance
• scar management

Treatment may include positioning, stretching, an exercise programme, and you may require a splint(s) to maintain joints in an optimum position during your recovery. When a wound is healed, an individualised skin care and scar management programme may be required. This will be started by your burns physiotherapist and will continue for you as an outpatient.

Burns physiotherapy outpatient service

Appointments will often be coordinated to incorporate other members of the multi-disciplinary team.

Due to the wide range of patients treated in the department, there is access to an extensive range of rehabilitation facilities, including:

• scar management and bespoke pressure garment service
• hand therapy
• large, well-equipped specialist outpatient gym
• access to specific rehabilitation classes

Lead Clinician

Rachel Kettle – Clinical Specialist, Burns and Plastics.

Contact

Email: QEHBphysio@uhb.nhs.uk