Every year, 250 000 people experience burns in the UK, 175 000 will attend an emergency department and 13 000 will require admission to hospital. Burns are usually accidents, often due to carelessness or inattention, but they may also be associated with alcohol or drug abuse or related to a pre-existing medical condition. The key role of the GP is to oversee patient care from initial first aid provision to rehabilitation and to be aware of when it is appropriate to refer to secondary care, including specialist burns units.
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