The UK’s first Burns Nurse Consultant has been appointed at UHSM, reinforcing the pivotal role the hospital plays in the treatment and care of burns survivors and their families in the region.

Jacky Edwards will be responsible for the advancement of nursing practice and improving standards of care. She has been a senior nurse specialist at UHSM since 1998 and has played a lead role in the evolving Northern England Burn Care Network, which covers Northern England, North Wales and the Isle of Man.

She will provide strategic leadership to the health and social care community by actively improving lifestyle and health outcomes as well as research and teaching to promote new techniques and treatments for patients at UHSM’s Wythenshawe Hospital, and across the UK.

Jacky, who comes from Stretford, says working with people who have survived burns is something she has always been interested in from her time way back as a junior nurse.

UHSM Chief Executive Julian Hartley says the Trust is very proud of the work it does to help victims of fire and their families. “A burns service has operated within the Trust since 1963, but in July 2001 a purpose build state-of the-art centre was opened providing a 12 bed in -patient units, a consultant-led clinic and home visits when clinically appropriate. Each year we admit over 250 people, including more than 40 who need critical care. Jacky’s appointment recognises the important work we do, and the skills and expertise she brings will strengthen the way we will look after patients now and in the future.”

Nationally, more than 250,000 people suffer burns in the UK every year. Of these, 175,000 people make contact with hospital Emergency Departments, and of the 13,000 who are admitted, 30 per cent are treated by specialist burn services like UHSM provides.