SWUK Burn Care ODN - Therapies Specialist Interest Group (SIG)

Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists are part of a specialist burns multi-disciplinary team (MDT) who provide care in many settings including intensive care units (ICU), ward based rehabilitation on a hospital ward, outpatients and in the community providing outreach services closer to the patients home. The therapist will carry out detailed assessments and provide a range of treatments tailored to the needs of the patient which may include play, exercises and splinting to improve movement, strength, mobility and the ability to perform everyday tasks such as washing, dressing and returning to work. Therapists also understand how to manage scarring resulting from burns and use interventions such as pressure garments and silicone creams which can help soften and pale scarring over time to help improve both cosmetic outcome and movement.

The SWUK Burn Care ODN has Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists who specialise in the management and rehabilitation of individuals with a burn injury and work together to create a SWUK ODN therapy team. This is one of four sub-groups to the ODN Board with the aim of contributing to the continuing improvement of Specialised Burn Services. They work closely with the Nursing and Psychology Specialist Interest Groups, working towards shared objectives outlined in the SWUK ODNs Annual Work Plan.

The current Lead for the Therapy SIG is Amanda Dufley, Specialist Physiotherapist at North Bristol NHS Trust.

Therapy Standards

All therapists working in Burns work to the British Burn Association National Burn Care Standards (2018) and also there is a published document on Occupational and Physiotherapy burn specific standards available via the link below:

Standards of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Practice in the Management of Burn Injured Adults and Children 2017