Sore need for new burn centre

By REBECCA WALSH health reporter

Karl Jorgensen does not remember much about how he came to have burns to nearly half his body.

It was his 18th birthday and he and some mates were celebrating in Ohakune, near Mt Ruapehu. In four days he was due to fly to America for a year-long Rotary exchange.

But as the group made their way home they decided to take the "easy" option over the train tracks.

For some reason Karl clambered on top of a stationary train - he thinks someone had thrown the house keys or a cellphone on the roof.

"I think I picked up the keys and stood up. That's when I got zapped and thrown from the train. I remember a blue light, then waking up and talking nonsense to my friends."

Karl was severely burned by an arc of current from 25,000-volt overhead powerlines. Doctors have told him the 4m fall to the ground probably restarted his heart.

After treatment in Wanganui and then Hutt Hospital, Karl was transferred to Middlemore Hospital's plastic surgery ward. He spent six weeks in hospital undergoing hours of reconstructive surgery in intense pain.

"Every time I moved something it felt like it wasn't supposed to, like it was twisting me the wrong way."

Now, 2 1/2 years later, the 20-year-old is busy studying for a bachelor of arts degree at Auckland University. He does not think about what happened much but fully supports the need for a National Burn Centre at Middlemore.

"The staff were great but there wasn't enough room for what was needed. At one point a lot of doctors came to have a look at my scars but couldn't all fit in my room. They were shouting to some in the corridor."

At present, patients with severe burns are cared for in the plastic surgery ward. Apart from the lack of space, there are no isolation rooms, which are important in preventing infection.

In November, the South Auckland Health Foundation will launch an appeal to raise money for a $4.3 million centre which will have 12 in-patient beds, including four isolation rooms for high-dependency patients, and two semi self-contained rooms for patient rehabilitation.

It will also have an out-patient facility and two specialist gyms.

Clinical leader Stephen Mills, and plastic and burns surgeon, said the centre would cater for the worst burn patients from around New Zealand, adults and children. It would also be the centre for a burn care network around the country.

Mr Mills said each year in New Zealand about 40 people suffered burns to more than 30 per cent of their body. Electrical burns such as Karl's were uncommon, making up about 5 per cent of all cases.

Treating burn patients was expensive - it cost between $250,000 and $500,000 to treat a patient with severe burns - and a burn centre was more cost-effective, said Mr Mills.

* Jimi Harper, the 8-year-old electrocuted by an 11,000-volt power line in West Auckland last month after he climbed a tree, is in a stable condition in Middlemore Hospital and progressing well.

* To make an automatic $20 donation to the National Burn Centre call 0900 BURN or 0900 54-394. For more information contact the South Auckland Health Foundation, phone (09) 270-8808.