CMDHB was proud to formally open Middlemore�s state-of-the-art National Burn Centre on June 16th. The facility, once fully operational, will provide treatment and rehabilitation for some of New Zealand�s most severe burn patients.

�The formal opening of the facility was about celebrating the hard work of all those who have tirelessly lobbied over the years and supported the establishment of a National Burn Centre at Middlemore.  It is a wonderful achievement,� says Chris Fleming, General Manager Surgical and Ambulatory Care.

The opening was well attended by more than 200 guests, who were guided through the afternoon�s proceedings by MC Mark Sainsbury.

CMDHB Chairman Pat Snedden and the new clinical director of burns Dr Richard Wong She, both addressed the crowd, as well as burn patient Serena Rudd. NZ Idol runner-up Nik Carlson who was seriously scalded as a baby, performed for the crowd.

Prime Minister Helen Clark spoke of the value of the National Burn Centre to New Zealanders, before cutting the ribbon to officially open the new facility, with burn patient Serena Rudd.

On Monday the 19th of June, patients from Ward 14 (Middlemore�s old burn unit) were transferred to the new National Burn Centre.

Located on the first floor of the Acute Hub at Middlemore Hospital, the National Burn Centre is directly above the Emergency Department and flanked by the Kidz First Children�s Hospital, acute theatres and the planned Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Although the new Centre is now being utilised, it will not be fully operational until 2008, when the Intensive Care Unit is co-located.

�There is still a lot of work that needs to be done for us to establish and deliver a sustainable national burn service,� says Chris Fleming. �We currently have only two members of the Department of Plastic Surgery with a sub-specialty interest in burns, however from December this year the surgeons will be joined by Dr Joel Fish, an eminent Burn Surgeon from Canada, for an 8 month sabbatical. Active recruitment for Burn Surgeons is ongoing, to ensure the service will be sustainable in the long term,� says Mr Fleming.

The National Burns Centre is part of a larger burn care network with existing regional burn treatment facilities in Christchurch, Hutt Valley and Waikato. Staff will be working closely with these units to manage referrals, while Middlemore continues to provide a Regional Burn Service to the Northern Region.

Thank you to all who have contributed to making the National Burn Centre a reality, in particular to the Ministry of Health for financial support received for the capital build and also the South Auckland Health Foundation who have been instrumental in obtaining $2.5 million for the facility and specialist equipment.

Mental Health Services relocated to East Tamaki

Counties Manukau District Health Board is a smokefree environment and workplace.