Alfred Health News

It is hard to believe that one year has already passed since the fires swept through on Black Saturday.

Stories of horror, loss and human spirit are permanently etched in the minds of all Victorians.

The Alfred treated the most seriously burned survivors from the fires - nine required a stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and two didn't survive.  It was the highest number of burns casualties The Alfred ever received from a single incident.

As home to the Victorian Adult Burns Service, The Alfred provided the highest level of care to the patients and their families during the bushfire disaster.

Prior to the bushfires, The Alfred participated in a statewide disaster training exercise that involved mass burn casualties.  

Following the exercise, several modifications were made to the hospital's emergency response plan and, in combination, they ensured the organisation was well-placed to respond to the influx of critically ill burns patients that later became a reality.

Since Black Saturday further improvements have also been made:

• The ICU burns special interest group provided an experienced resource, which has since been augmented by the creation of an ICU Burns Resource Nurse role.

With her experience in critical care, burns and disaster management, Melinda Pacquola took on the job, and aims to increase the pool of burns nursing expertise in ICU.

•  A new specialised dressing team now helps deliver efficient and safe procedural burn care for ICU burns patients.

•  An extreme weather daily assessment tool has also been introduced at the hospital, modelled in line with the CFA Fire Danger Rating.

A number of patients still return to The Alfred periodically for outpatient appointments - to assist their physical and mental recovery.

But there are also patients who are returning to say thank you to the staff for their hard work and dedication in the aftermath of the bushfires.

Bill Hill was defending his property in Labertouche when he sustained severe burns to his face and limbs.  He spent three weeks in the burns unit but is now back on his farm.

Bill is so appreciative of the care he received that he regularly lends his support to The Alfred Foundation, and also makes time to visit burns patients on the ward.

Burn liaison nurse, Hana Menezes said it has been a long road to recovery for the bushfire victims, and everyone is mindful of the anniversary and its impact.

"We learnt a lot during the bushfires," Hana said.  "I think our relationships with different departments have improved and communication is smoother."