HC Deb 04 December 1975 vol 901 cc723-4W
Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many special burns units there are in the United Kingdom; where they are situated; and how many beds there are in each unit.

Dr. Owen

There are 18 units in the United Kingdom primarily concerned with the treatment of burns—

Pindersfields General Hospital, Wakefield, Yorks (16 beds).

Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middlesex (12 beds).

Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead. Sussex (12 beds).

Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton, London, S. W. 15 (23 beds).

Salisbury General Hospital (21 beds).

Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, Bucks. (18 beds).

Frenchay Hospital, Bristol (48 beds including some children's beds used for plastic surgery also).

Birmingham Accident Hospital (40 beds).

Withington Hospital, Manchester (12 beds).

Booth Hall (Children's) Hospital, Manchester (19 beds).

The Hospital for Sick Children, London, W. C. I (6 beds).

Wiston Hospital, Liverpool (84 beds—including beds used for plastic surgery).

Wharncliffe Hospital, Sheffield (9 beds).

Middlesbrough General Hospital (28 beds—including beds used for plastic surgery).

N. Tees Hospital (24 beds for children—also used for plastic surgery).

Fleming Memorial Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (33 beds for children—also used for plastic surgery).

St. Lawrence Hospital, Chepstow, Gwent (30 beds).

Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (7 beds).

Treatment of burns is also undertaken by some units primarily concerned with plastic surgery and in addition many general hospitals would provide treatment either in general wards or in intensive therapy units according to the severity of the burn.

Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many admissions there were to special burns units in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of admissions were children under the age of two years.

Dr. Owen

In 1973 approximately 13,700 patients were admitted to hospitals in England and Wales with a primary diagnosis of burn. About 3,000 of these were children under two years of age. Precise information on how many of these cases were treated in special burns units is not available, but they would represent a fairly small proportion of the total number of cases treated.

Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list the main causes of admissions to special burns units; and, in particular, if she will estimate the proportion arising from accidents with fireworks and scalding in the home, respectively.

Dr. Owen

The main causes of admission to burns units are as follows:

  1. (i) all burns involving more than 9 per cent. of the body surface;
  2. (ii) burns likely to need skin grafts or replacement of skin;
  3. (iii) burns of more than minimum severity in children and infants;
  4. (iv) severe cardio-respiratory complications due to shock or the inhalation of dangerous fumes.

Information on the proportion of admissions arising from accidents with fireworks and scalding in the home is not available centrally.

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