NHS rejects regional burns unit

Campaigners feared that other units would have been downgraded

Proposals to create a regional centre for burns patients in the north west have been rejected by NHS bosses.

The Northern Burns Care Network (NBCN) argued the centre, based in Manchester, would have improved care for the most serious burns victims.

But opponents on Merseyside feared the plans would have meant burns units at Alder Hey and Whiston were downgraded.

NHS North West, the strategic health authority, said there was no evidence the new centre would improve care.

The burns care network had argued the creation of so-called "supra-regional burn centres" would ensure that all burn injury patients were treated in the most appropriate setting.

Severe burns

The most serious adult burn injuries would have been treated at Wythenshawe Hospital, while less serious burns treatment would have continued at other regional centres.

It said the reorganisation would reduce pain, long-term health problems and death rates among patients.

But NHS North West said in a statement there was "no compelling evidence" to demonstrate the regional service would improve outcomes for those patients with the most severe burns.

"If evidence should emerge in the future that demonstrates people with severe burns in the north west and across the north of England have significantly lower survival rates than in other regions, then the authority will re-examine the proposals," it added.

But it said any new proposals could not improve outcomes for patients with the most severe burns at the expense of all others.

"In other words, that a new supra-regional service dealing with the most severe cases would not undermine the ability of existing regional centres to deliver care to all patients with burns," the statement added.