Pediatric Burns Service at the Townsville University Hospital celebrates 15 years

After her young son suffered a deep burn on his hand from a steam humidifier, Catherine Weaver was grateful to find help close to home.

(Left) Director of Pediatric Surgery Dr Harry Stalewski with Catherine Weaver and her son Tex who had to use the pediatric burns service at Townsville University Hospital.

The Pediatric Burns Service at the Townsville University Hospital celebrated 15 years of helping burns patients recover from horrific injuries.

Coinciding with burns awareness month and the biennial pediatric burns symposium, the event has seen a number of doctors, nurses and occupational therapists come together.

Pediatric surgery director Dr Harry Stalewski OAM said the burns service had grown from a local operation, to one that provides for all of North Queensland.

“It really became a formal thing about 15 years ago where we set it up properly as a service,” he said.

Since its inception, the service has gone through a number of changes, making it easier for burns patients in places such as Cairns, Mount Isa and Mackay to get treatment.

“Over the last few years we’ve had more medical staff, more trained nursing staff, occupational therapists and better facilities to provide a better service,” Dr Stalewski said.

“Such as email services, being able to have photos, all these things provide better care for the patients.”

Catherine Weaver had to bring her son Tex from Magnetic Island to use the service after he received a deep burn to the web of his hand after touching a steam humidifier.

After having the burns redressed on the island, the burns unit asked for a photo to examine the burn.

“They said that it looks deeper than we expected and wanted us to come in, so we came into the ER,” Ms Weaver said.

“We had lots of doctors and nurses come in and have a look at it, he (Tex) was probably more happy than I was considering the circumstances.”

Ms Weaver said while travelling over from Magnetic Island was tricky initially, it was good they could travel to Townsville instead of travelling somewhere else.

“We didn’t have to fly to Cairns, we didn’t have to fly or helicopter anywhere, so it was a big relief we didn’t have to travel too far.”

Originally published as Pediatric Burns Service at the Townsville University Hospital celebrates 15 years