Ms Julie Bricknell¹, Ms Rachel  Edmondson¹, Mrs  Akane  Katsu¹, Ms Tanya Iddamalgoda¹, Mrs Julia Kwiet¹

¹Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia

Abstract:

Following the New Zealand White Island volcanic eruption in December 2019, multiple burn casualties were transferred to the Royal North Shore Hospital Severe Burn Injury Unit. These patients, together with those injured in the Black Summer bushfires, resulted in unprecedented numbers of severe burns. This necessitated a coordinated allied health plan of management to optimally treat these complex cases.

Our presentation highlights challenges faced, such as staffing , demand for physical resources, vicarious trauma and communication. We describe solutions found such as new protocols, organisational strategies, therapy classes, education and psychological support for the MDT.

We raise the question of whether we need an “Allied Health Disaster Management Plan” for the future.

Biography:

Julie Bricknell is a senior Physiotherapist who has worked in Burns and Plastics  at Royal North Shore Hospital for 11 years. She is involved in teaching burns therapy management on a variety of burns courses across NSW and Australia.