Paediatric Burns and Plastics
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
Paediatric Burns and Plastics at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
The Burns and Plastic Surgery Paediatric Service is based at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, with some specialist treatment provided at Wythenshawe Hospital. The service provides inpatient burns care through the Burns Centre, plastic surgery care through the Burns Centre and wider hospital wards, main outpatient services and Burns and Plastics Aftercare Clinic follow-up.
Observers and fellows can gain structured exposure to paediatric burns and plastic surgery within one of the UK’s largest children’s hospitals. The service works through a broad multidisciplinary team including doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, nutritionists, play therapists, psychologists and prosthetics teams.
The programme focuses on practical understanding of paediatric burns assessment, acute and reconstructive pathways, scar management, wound care, hand and skin surgery, trauma reconstruction and longer-term rehabilitation. Exposure may include ward-based activity, clinics, day surgery pathways, theatre activity, multidisciplinary discussions, aftercare clinics and governance or teaching activity.
The service sits within a wider paediatric surgical environment with access to emergency and elective theatre pathways, paediatric critical care and other paediatric subspecialty support. This gives observers and fellows insight into how complex paediatric surgical care is coordinated safely across specialties.
Fellowships and observerships at Manchester Specialist Health Academy provide international clinicians with structured opportunities to experience high quality healthcare training within a leading NHS environment. Both pathways offer consultant oversight, a clear induction, and access to modern clinical settings that support a strong understanding of advanced patient care. Participants are welcomed into a professional community that encourages learning, collaboration, and engagement with the culture of Manchester.
While fellows take part in more in depth clinical development, gaining exposure to subspecialties, procedures and research, observers focus on shadowing and understanding multidisciplinary practice within NHS services. Both groups benefit from involvement in clinics, team discussions, and wider learning activities such as simulation sessions, CPD opportunities, and quality improvement insight.
Academic contributions and awards
The service is associated with paediatric burns research, aftercare evaluation and multidisciplinary rehabilitation work.
• Thomlinson AM, Farrell NR, Shah M, Gaskell SL. Psychological Evaluation of a Residential Children's Burns Camp Programme: A Ten-Year Evaluation. European Burn Journal, 2023.
• Majeed YR, Baker BG, Stanyer L, Sheikh Z. Thermoplastic splints: Minimising morbidity in paediatric foot and ankle burns. Burns, 2020.
Rare and complex cases
- Acute paediatric burns management, from initial assessment and wound care through to reconstruction and rehabilitation.
- Complex burns requiring critical care support and regional specialist referral.
- Post-burn scar management and long-term functional rehabilitation.
- Paediatric plastic surgery, including hand surgery, cleft care, vascular anomalies, trauma, and reconstructive procedures.
- Multidisciplinary management of vascular anomalies and congenital hand differences.
- Holistic rehabilitation programmes supporting recovery, confidence, and return to everyday activities.
Why Manchester?
Manchester is a city of innovation and progress, renowned as the world’s first industrial city and still leading in science, healthcare, and technology. With excellent transport links and a vibrant, multicultural atmosphere, it offers an inclusive environment for learning and professional growth.
Beyond your placement, Manchester offers something for everyone - from watching the iconic Manchester derby to exploring world-class museums and galleries. With vibrant music, sport, and culture, the city truly has it all. Combining heritage and modernity, it creates a unique setting for personal enrichment and memorable experiences whilst you develop professionally.
Our signature programmes
Observership
Paediatric Burns and Plastics
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Describe the structure of a paediatric burns and plastic surgery service.
- Recognise key stages of paediatric burns care, from assessment and dressing pathways to theatre, inpatient care, aftercare and rehabilitation.
- Explain how multidisciplinary teams support children and families through acute injury, reconstructive care, scar management and psychological recovery.
- Identify common paediatric plastic surgery pathways, including hand surgery, skin surgery, vascular anomalies, trauma reconstruction and wound care.
- Understand how day surgery, outpatient, ward, theatre and aftercare pathways are coordinated in NHS paediatric surgical practice.
- Reflect on transferable approaches to family-centred care, safeguarding awareness, communication, governance and rehabilitation planning.
Eligibility
- The visiting professional must have sufficient English language skills to engage meaningfully in the observership.
Fellowship
Paediatric Burns and Plastics
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Develop deeper understanding of supervised paediatric burns and plastic surgery management within a complex NHS environment.
- Apply evidence-based principles to supervised discussion of burns assessment, wound care, grafting, reconstruction, complications and rehabilitation planning, within role and governance limits.
- Gain structured exposure to theatre pathways, Burns and Plastics Aftercare Clinic activity, ward-based care and multidisciplinary decision-making.
- Strengthen understanding of paediatric scar management, functional recovery, psychological support and long-term follow-up after burn injury.
- Contribute to supervised audit, quality improvement, case-based discussion, teaching or research-related activity.
- Build professional insight to support future senior clinical, academic, educational or leadership roles in paediatric burns and plastic surgery.
Eligibility
- Postgraduate Qualification: Applicants must hold an overseas-recognised postgraduate medical qualification (MD, MS, Masters) in the relevant specialty.
- Experience: Minimum of 3 years’ recent experience in the relevant or a related specialty within the last 5 years, including at least 12 months of continuous practice before applying.
- Training Level: Equivalent to ST5 or above, or post-CCT clinicians seeking subspecialty exposure.
- Language Proficiency: IELTS Academic with 7.0 in each band and overall 7.5, or OET Medicine with Grade B in all domains, with certificate validity within 24 months.
- Registration: GMC registration is required for fellowship activity. Sponsorship support may be available through approved routes where appropriate.
- Applicants must not have failed PLAB exams previously.
- Visa sponsorship is only available through approved routes; self-funded visas outside agreed schemes are excluded.