Burns Management Guidelines

To improve patient outcomes, we have established these guidelines to ensure a consistent standard of burns injury management outside the hospital environment, particularly in the early stages after injury.

Each year at least 5000 Victorians present to Emergency Departments across the state with burn injury, the VABS treats over 300 of these people as inpatients and over 1000 as outpatients annually. 

Severe burn injury is fortunately uncommon, but management of such injuries is complex and considerable, hospitalisation is lengthy and care requirements extend well past the acute phase of injury recovery with long term follow up care, rehabilitation and possible surgical revision. Timely, evidence based best practices ensure that those affected by burn injury are treated optimally to ensure best possible outcomes and return to function.

The VABS:

  • has been established to provide and ensure excellence in care for Victorians who suffer burn injury
  • is the statewide referral service for adults 16 years and over who have severe burn injury
  • provides clinical leadership and support for the management of smaller burn injuries managed outside The Alfred
  • promotes excellence in burn care through research, education, guideline development and quality improvement

Find out more about the Burns Management Guidelines

The aim of these guidelines is to provide a consistent standard of management for burn injuries managed outside of a Burn Service, particularly in the early stages after injury, to improve patient care and outcomes.

Access the Burns Management Guidelines