news story

9th November 2007

MP Welcomes Guarantees over Frenchay Burns Unit

Northavon MP Steve Webb has welcomed assurances that he has received from health ministers that regional burns services are to be retained in North Bristol and not moved, as had been feared, to Swansea.

Fears had been expressed that as part of the National Burn Care Review, regional specialist services for the South West and Wales would be moved from Frenchay to Swansea.

However, a letter to Mr Webb from Health Minister Ben Bradshaw confirms that "..the Bristol service has been formally designated as a regional burn care unit serving the South West". Whilst the Minister acknowledges that there are plans on an interim basis for "..a few patients with the most complex injuries to be transferred to Swansea", the reply concludes that in the longer term the burn care service for South Gloucestershire is 'being improved, and that there are no plans to transfer these services to Swansea".

Commenting, Steve Webb said:

"Given the excellence that has been built up at Frenchay for treating burns patients it would have been criminal to move the regional centre of excellence away from our area. I am pleased to hear from the Minister that this is not the plan, and we must be vigilant to ensure that this promise is now kept"