The South West Burn Care Network (SWBCN) is reliant on clinicians, managers, commissioners and patients to function effectively and achieve the best clinical outcomes for patients.  The Network has developed a Regional Governance Framework which aligns to a National Governance Framework for Operational Delivery Networks.  A Governance Framework of Multi-professional groups has been established to oversee and deliver the work of the Network.

 The Governance Framework that consists of:

• Network Management Team
• SWBCN Executive Board
• SWBCN Clinical Governance Group
• Specialist sub-groups for Nursing, Therapists and Psychologists
• SWBCN Emergency Planning and Resilience Group
• Short life Task and Finish Groups

Patient involvement has been difficult to achieve, however, we have been fortunate in recruiting a patient representative to the ODN Board.

The SWBCN collaborates with the other three Burn Care Networks.  All  Burn Care Networks are overseen by NHS England’s Trauma National Programme of Care and the Major Trauma Clinical Reference Group which brings together major trauma and burns. Both ensure Burn Care Networks are delivering against core and developmental standards as defined in the National Service Specification for Specialised Burn Care (all ages).

SWBCN 2024 Clinical Governance Framework v5 July 2024

The Network does not currently have a Chair, they would usually chair the Network Board meetings.  The meeting is currently being chaired by the Network Clinical Director. The Board meets four times a year. The Board has standing Agenda items reviewing progress against the Network Work Programme, review of the Risk Register, Network financial report and review against the National Quality Indicators. 

Membership of the Network Board consists of: 

• Network Management Team
• NHS England Specialised Commissioning (South)
• Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee  (WHSSC)
• Burn Service Clinical Leads
• Burn Service Lead Nurses
• Chairs of the Specialist Interest Groups
• Burn Service Trust management
• A patient representative (currently vacant)

For further information, please see below the latest Board Terms of Reference.  Minutes of Board meetings are available on request.

SWBCN Board Terms of Reference v6 July 2024

The Network Clinical Governance Group (CGG) was set up to review clinical activity, develop network protocols and guidelines and oversee any clinical risk and governance issues. The group is Chaired by the Network Clinical Director who reports directly to the Network Board.  Each Burn Service provides a written quarterly report to the Clinical Governance Group.  The Specialist Interest Groups also provide a quarterly progress reports to the Clinical Governance Group on work streams associated to the Network Work Annual Programme.  Any items of concern are escalated to the Network Board.

Membership of the Clinical Governance Group consists of:

• Network Clinical Director
• Burn Service Clinical Leads
• Network Lead Nurse
• Network Allied Health Professional (AHP) & Quality Lead
• A Nominated Clinical Psychologist Lead
• Representatives from South Western Ambulance Services NHS Foundation Trust and Critical Care Transfer Services
• Representatives from general ICUs
• Representatives from general paediatrics
• Network Manager

SWBCN Clinical Governance Terms of Reference v2 July 2024

Several Specialist Interest Groups (SIGs) have been set up to deliver quality and service improvement.  They have their own work programmes aligned to the Network objectives.   The groups consists of specialists from each of the burn services and other stakeholders, allowing cross organisation collaborations in driving regional projects on improving burn care in the Network area.  They also send representatives to national British Burn Assocaition SIGs.  

Current Specialist Interest Groups are:

• Burns Nursing SIG
• Burns Therapies SIG 
• Burns Clinical Psychology SIG
• Burns Anaesethists & Intensivists SIG
• Burns Prevention & Awareness SIG
• Burns Research Collaborative SIG

If you have an interest in these areas, please contact the relevant SIG Chair.  See Specialist Interest Groups page on this website.

Following the publication of the NHS England Concept of Operations for managing Mass Casualtiesand the Burns Annex, the Network set up an Emergency Planning and Resilience Group consisting of representatives from each Specialised Burn Service.  The aim of this group is to provide assurance to the Network Executive Board and in turn NHS England, that each of the specialised burn services in the Network area have an Emergency Plan in place that is embedded into their Trust's/Health Board's Emergency Plan.  The group provides a consultative forum for burns mass casualty strategic and management issues across the Network.

SWUK ODN Emergency Planning Group Terms of Reference