Meet the team
- Team Lead Occupational Therapists
- Senior Occupational Therapists (rotational)
- Occupational Therapists (rotational)
- Senior Therapy Assistants
- Occupational Therapy assistants
About us
The Burns Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital is a key specialist service within the Midlands regional network, working closely with services in Nottingham, Leicester, and Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The dedicated and integrated multidisciplinary team provides holistic, high‑level care for patients with complex burn injuries and those requiring plastic or reconstructive surgery following life‑changing illness, trauma, or injury.
Conditions we treat
Occupational therapists (OTs) and physiotherapists (PTs) work together to address the physical, functional, and psychological effects of burns and scarring—from the moment of hospital admission through to long‑term rehabilitation. This combined approach focuses on:
- Protecting healing tissues
- Maintaining movement and function
- Preventing complications such as contractures
- Supporting emotional wellbeing, enabling a safe and confident return to everyday life
What to expect
Occupational therapists work closely with patients to understand how their injury affects everyday activities such as washing, dressing, cooking, and moving around. Through detailed, person‑centred assessments, they identify what matters most to each individual and tailor rehabilitation accordingly through,
- Functional assessment: exploring how burns impact daily routines, roles, and meaningful occupations (tasks).
- Adaptive equipment: recommending tools and techniques that make tasks safer and easier during healing.
- Rehabilitation programmes: graded activity to rebuild strength, endurance, dexterity, and independence.
- Splinting: custom made splints to prevent tightening of the skin, soft tissues, and joints that can restrict movement.
- Oedema management: using compression, splinting and positioning to reduce swelling, pain and the risk of developing stiff joints and deformities
- Cognitive assessments: identifying difficulties with memory, attention, problem‑solving, or executive function that may affect safety to go home or rehabilitation.
- Seating and positioning assessments: ensuring posture, pressure distribution, and comfort are optimised, particularly for patients with large burns or reduced mobility.
- Discharge planning: a core part of the OT role in supporting patients as they prepare to return home. This includes: assessing the home environment, recommending equipment or modifications, practising meaningful tasks (washing, dressing, shopping, cooking) and supporting return to meaningful roles, work, and social participation
The goal of Occupational Therapy is to help people get back to doing the things that matter most to them, with comfort, dignity, and independence.
Outpatients service
Therapy Led scar management
Scar management is a core therapy following burn injury and reconstructive surgery, aiming to improve skin quality, maintain function, reduce discomfort, and support long‑term physical and psychological recovery. Once wounds have healed, the therapists provide specialist, therapy‑led scar management clinics as part of an outpatient service that may continue for two years or more while scars mature. The non-surgical therapeutic interventions available are
Education and guidance
Education and guidance on regular skin hydration, which helps maintain skin elasticity, reduce dryness, and support comfort. This is often combined with advice on massage techniques, which aim to soften scar tissue, improve circulation, and maintain skin mobility as scars evolve.
Sun protection
Sun protection is recommended to the newly healed skin for the following 2 years, using SPF 50+, and clothing to keep the sun off the skin, this is because of how fragile and sensitive the scars will be to the harsh UV rays from the sun
Pressure therapy
Pressure therapy may be used if scars are raised or become thick, this usually involves wearing specially made pressure garments that apply gentle, even pressure to the scar. Pressure garments help flatten scars and support healthy healing. The therapist will measure, fit, and regularly review these garments to ensure they remain comfortable and effective.
Custom made splints
Custom‑made splints may be provided were scars cross joints or limit movement, these are designed specifically for you and help keep joints in a good position, reduce tightening of the skin, and protect healing areas. Splints are often used alongside exercises and pressure garments to achieve the best results.
Desensitisation techniques
Desensitisation techniques Some scars can feel very sensitive or uncomfortable to touch. Different techniques are used to gradually reduce sensitivity by gently exposing the scar to different textures and pressures. This can help make everyday activities like dressing, washing, and social contact more comfortable over time.
Individual exercise programme
Individual exercise programme to help keep your skin, muscles, and joints moving. Movement is important for helping scars stretch and soften in line with normal daily activities
LPG massage
LPG massage, a therapy‑delivered technique used to mobilise deeper scar tissue and reduce long‑term stiffness or discomfort.
Cosmetic camouflage clinic
Cosmetic camouflage clinic for scars that are visible, support is available using specialist make up products which help to reduce the appearance of scars and improve confidence
Scar management is a long‑term process, and your therapist will support you throughout your recovery, adjusting treatment as your scar changes. The aim is to help you feel comfortable, confident, and able to return to the activities that matter most to you.
Who we work with
- Burns and plastics consultants
- Specialist nurses
- Dietitians
- Occupational therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Speech and language therapists
- Therapy assistants
- Psychologists
How to be referred
If you are a patient on a ward at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham , you can be referred to occupational therapy by a member of the health care team if they feel it is necessary.
If you are under a consultant within the burns & plastics team, they can refer you to therapies directly.
Contact us
Last reviewed: 23 September 2026