Winter burns warning
Ngwelezana Hospital promoted Burns Awareness Week over 6 to 12 May.
ANTICIPATING an increase in burn cases during the winter months, Ngwelezana Hospital promoted Burns Awareness Week over 6 to 12 May.
The increase largely occurs in domestic cases, with 60 percent of victims under five years old.
‘As we serve a large rural population, we see increases in both minor to severe cases,’ said Head of General Surgery, Dr Mahesh Naidoo under whom the burns unit falls.
‘The burns are usually from open flames and children are most at risk.’
On Tuesday, speakers from Eskom, Edendale Hospital, The Ngwelezane Dietetics and Occupational Therapy departments, among others, were hosted at the hospital to sensitise the community about burn dangers.
A second presentation by Dr Janeshree Govindasamy of Edendale hospital was held for nurses, doctors and therapists regarding the management of burns.
‘The cost of treating a severely burned or complicated burn patient is significant,’ said Govindasamy.
‘The current reality is a serious limitation in resources for these patients, in terms of available hospital beds, staff, time and cost of treatments.’
Ngwelezana Hospital receives referrals from 19 hospitals in the district, treating some 500 burn patients a year through a dedicated burn unit and ward overseen by Senior Medical Officer, Iain Smith, who has more than eight years of experience with the unit.
‘Burn wounds are like a neglected child in medicine, and are very hard work,’ said Dr Naidoo.
‘It is not practiced as a sub-specialty and most of the acute care is done through general surgery.
‘However, Ngwelezana never turns patients away; we are only limited by our capacity.’
While Ngwelezana Hospital schedules theatre time for burn patients, it houses no dedicated burns ICU.
Patients suffering moderate to severe burn are transported to Albert Luthuli Hospital in Durban.
