Dear Children and Parents,

1
Paediatric Burns Service Consultation
Project Frances Binns (Therapeutic Specialised
Play Consultant ), Sarah Gaskell (Consultant
Clinical Psychologist) and Jo Blundell
(Assistant Psychologist)
What you said...
Dear Children and Parents, Last year we asked
some of the children, teenagers and families to
tell us what they thought about the Burns Service
at Booth Hall Childrens Hospital, and about ways
in which they thought we could improve the
service that is being offered to families and
children, so that we could make it a better
experience for everyone. Here you can read about
what we did and some of the comments and
suggestions that you gave to us, as well as some
of the things that we are going to do to improve
the Burns Service.
...about treatment
Pain Management
Children said...
Parents said...
It stings when bandages are changed. Give jabs
or cream to make the pain better.
Brilliant pain management. Dressings were
painful.
Coping with treatments
Burns Services are currently going through a
lot of change. We thought that this would be a
good time to develop services and also a
wonderful chance to listen to children and
families, and be guided by their experiences. In
order to do this we looked at other projects that
have asked for the views of children and families
to try to get some advice about how to go about
things.
Parents said...
Background
Children said...
It is a pain remembering to take all your
medicines and put cream on.
Pressure garments were great and made it easier
to go out. It was hard to coping with dressing
changes on our own.
Therapy
Parents said...
Children said...
Swimming therapy is very good.
Therapists were really good we go on so
well. Play specialist was very helpful.
What we did

• We were interested in getting the views of
  children and families in every stage of care from
  referral, right through to when children left the
  Burns Unit and returned to home and school.
• A range of methods were used to gather the views
  of children, young people and families including
• Questionnaires
• Informal interviews
• Group activities
• Creative activities using play, drawing and
  writing
• The information provided by children and families
  were reported as likes, dislikes and
  suggestions/solutions in key areas.

...about information
Information
Parents said...
Children said...
Good encouragement taking you through
everything so you knew what to expect. We were
told when we were discharged that they would give
us information on massaging but they didnt tell
us much. Give more information and knowledge.
Doctors and nurses tell you what is
happening. Doctors spoke to Mum instead of to
both of us. Staff should ask if you want to
know everything about your treatment and respect
your decision.
Communication
Children said...
Parents said...
Who we talked to
Nurses went into school and explained my
condition.
Good liaison and communication with school
they had an assembly to explain what happened to
my child. Would have been better for someone to
understand life circumstances why couldnt some
arrange dressings and Physio on the same day.
Here are graphs which describe the children
involved in the project.
Ethnicity of children
Sex of children
Age of children
...about facilities and resources
Accommodation
Parents said...
Children said...
Make rooms and cubicles brighter so people feel
welcome.
Parent facilities were very good.
Travel
Areas where children lived
Time since children had their injury
Parents said...
Children said...
It was a long way to come to clinic I had to
get up early.
Good hospital transport via taxi. It is very
tiring coming back to clinic regularly I had to
travel 1 ½ hours on the motorway and I have other
children to look after as well. Need services
closer to home as it was time consuming
travelling and this put anxiety and pressure on
both patients and parents.
...about support
What we are doing about it
Burns Team Support
Parents said...
Children said...

• From the information that children and families
  gave us, we have planned a number of ways to help
  carry forward their recommendations.
• Project Report The findings from the project
  have been put into a report so that we can let
  everyone who works in the Burns Service know what
  we have been doing and what we have found.
• Support for children and families Some children
  and families told us that they wanted more
  support. Because of this, we have looked at the
  support that children and families need in much
  more detail, and are now looking at ways in which
  we can improve the support that children and
  families receive.
• Information Some children and families told us
  that they wanted to be given better information
  about burn injury and all things that go with
  this. We are now developing information booklets
  and leaflets for children and families, giving
  information and guidance on all things regarding
  burn injuries.
• Communication Some children and families told
  us they wanted better communication between the
  people working in the Burns Service, and also
  between the Burns Service and other services they
  were involved in with. We are now looking at the
  way in which people who work in the Burns Service
  talk to each other, and ways that this can be
  improved for the benefit of children and
  families.
• Community Many of the children and families
  told us that one of the biggest difficulties they
  had were the many trips to hospital. We have now
  set up a team that is looking at taking care into
  the community so that children and families wont
  have to travel so much and there will be someone
  close by if they need them.

Doctors and nurses were nice and very
helpful. Give children encouragement always
tell us were doing great.
Staff were supportive friendly and helpful. I
was worried about the future and didnt know who
to talk to.
Psychological Support
Children said...
Parents said...
Good psychological support to help my child with
pain. To be asked if you need help. Some way
of helping parents since they struggle.
Get one special person who asks about your
problems, writes them down and then tries to come
up with solutions.
Can you spot any animals hiding in this poster?
We hope that you have enjoyed reading about the
project. If you have any comments or questions,
please feel free to contact either
Frances Binns Department of Therapeutic and
Specialised Play Booth Hall Childrens
Hospital Manchester Tel [phone]
Jo Blundell Department of Clinical
Psychology Booth Hall Childrens
Hospital Manchester Tel [phone]