Disastrous to send our burns patients to Manchester (From St Helens Star)

Disastrous to send our burns patients to Manchester

9:03am Thursday 25th June 2009

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This week I read of an official recommendation to be made to the new Health Secretary Andy Burnham whether Whiston’s nationally renowned Burns Unit should be effectively downgraded with the most serious burns victims being transferred to Wythenshawe Hospital for treatment.

Surely Whiston, as a specialist burns unit should be the last place to be considered in any recommendation, how can it be in favour of patient care to transfer them 30 miles to another unit when we already have a world renowned unit in the town.

At this moment Whiston treats burn patients across Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and the Isle of Man in high quality facilities.

Do the people making these recommendations not realise it can take many years to achieve the standards attained by Whiston Burns Unit, the right staff have to be found then formed into an efficient team.

Surely a two site option would be the perfect solution. The point that Manchester have access to airlift facilities should not be used to further the recommendation, this comparison could easily be rectified, GIVE WHISTON THE SAME ACCESS, the 'experts' also recommend that Alder Hey Hospitals unit for child burns unit victims be switched to Manchester.

Why do these people assume that this move would be ideal for the people who would have to travel to Manchester. Everyone does not necessarily have transport or the funds to travel, or the time if they are lucky enough to be working.

Finally may I add that if this move came about, the extra time taken (up to 1 hour) to transfer someone this distance could seriously put their recovery at risk, if there is to be another unit installed at Manchester, so and good, but let’s have it as an addition and not at the expense of losing the most renowned burns unit in the country.

Les Woods, Nutgrove Road.

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