Burns laser a Queensland first for kids

In a Queensland-first, The Townsville Hospital and Health Service (HHS) will be able to treat children with burns without a skin graft thanks to a new C02 Fractional Laser.

Townsville’s three paediatric surgeons have completed training using the new equipment and will begin treating patients in operating theatres this month.

The Townsville Hospital Foundation successfully applied for $35,000 through Glencore’s community investment program with the remaining $35,000 funded by the Townsville HHS.

Director of Paediatric Surgery Dr Dan Carroll said the technology would significantly increase the quality of life and recovery for about 100 young burns patients every year.

Dr Carroll said one of the added complications of treating burns in children was that they grow quickly and the rigid ‘contractions’ in the burn tissue can’t keep pace.

“In the past we’d need to go in and remove these contractions, straighten the limb or affected area and then perform a skin graft,” he said.

“This piece of equipment uses a laser to break the collagen in the scar making it softer and more elastic that we will achieve the same result without the need for a skin graft.

“The new equipment allows us to work with the scar to improve outcomes rather than resorting to surgery and will make a huge difference to our young patients.”

Dr Carroll said another significant benefit of the treatment was that by softening the skin the scar becomes less inflamed and itchy and appears much better cosmetically.

Townsville Hospital Foundation general manager Judy Higgins-Olsen said the equipment was a fantastic early Christmas present for young North Queenslanders.

“This was really a wish list item for the hospital for a while now and it is so gratifying to see it installed and operational to help young North Queenslanders,” she said.

“It is a huge coup for the community for Townsville to be the first hospital in Queensland to offer this treatment to children.”

Glencore has been a long-time supporter of the Townsville Hospital Foundation providing funding for vital equipment since 2005.

Glencore’s Townsville Copper Refinery Manager Paul Taylor said the company takes pride in supporting community development initiatives, like the Townsville Hospital Foundation, that build the capacity of health service provision in the region, and improve emergency response and patient care outcomes in north Queensland.

“The new CO2 Fractional Laser significantly improves the hospital’s capacity to treat and rehabilitate burns patients living within north and north-west Queensland, and is a significant first for Queensland hospitals,” Mr Taylor said.

“Feedback through the Glencore Community Pulse survey identified supporting health initiatives was a priority for the Townsville community.

“Our contribution to the Townsville Hospital through the Foundation sits well with our belief that we should support the communities where our operations are based; sharing our successes.”

Since 2005, Glencore has provided almost $300,000 for vital emergency equipment to the Townsville Hospital Foundation.