An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde unit has cemented its reputation as an international centre of excellence in burns care following the announcement of three major developments – barely five years after it was established.
The Scottish National Burns Centre is set to host a major international conference this autumn – around the same time that the centre’s Clinical Lead takes on the role of Chair of the British Burns Association.
Glasgow has also been selected to host the association’s annual meeting in 2029, the main event in the UK burns calendar, which will return to the city 50 years after it was last held there.
The centre, within the Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, will welcome clinicians from across the UK, Europe and further afield for a two-day meeting in September focused on the care of critically injured burns patients.
It comes after the service was formally established as Scotland’s single national burns hub – first for children in 2021 and then for adults in 2022 – following recommendations from the Scottish National Burn Service Review.
The centre treats patients from throughout the country with a wide range of burn injuries, including some of the most complex cases. In 2025, more than 200 adults and over 120 children were admitted, alongside several hundred new outpatient referrals and a growing outreach service supporting patients closer to home.
Activity has increased steadily since the service was established, particularly in paediatric care, with rising referral numbers reflecting growing use of the service across Scotland. The team has also managed more than 100 of the most severe cases referred at a national level.
The September conference, Management of the Critically Injured Burn Patient, follows a similar event held in 2023 and will bring together a range of speakers from across different areas of burns care, including intensive care, surgery and rehabilitation.
Among those attending will be Professor Tom Potokar OBE of the International Committee of the Red Cross, alongside Professor Mark Fisher of the Johns Hopkins Burn Centre in the United States and Dr Nadia Depetris, President of the European Burn Association.
Later this year the centre’s Clinical Lead, Mr Nick Arkoulis, will become Chair of the British Burns Association – the first time a Scottish surgeon has held the position in almost 50 years – while Dr Lia Paton, the centre’s Burns Intensive Care Lead, has been appointed to a senior education role within the organisation.
Alongside its clinical work, the service has contributed to wider national activity, including input to fireworks legislation and research into changing patterns of burn injuries. It is also involved in work to strengthen Scotland’s preparedness for major incidents involving large numbers of burn casualties.
Mr Arkoulis said: “In a relatively short time, the service has developed into a national centre caring for patients from across Scotland.
“We are continuing to build on that work, including through collaboration with colleagues across the UK and internationally.”
