Children’s Hospital Trust launches the first paediatric burns unit in Cape Winelands

By Children's Hospital Trust

The Children’s Hospital Trust, in collaboration with the Western Cape

Department of Health and Wellness and partner organisations, bring the

world-class burns care provided at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital into the Cape Winelands. The Trust has invested a total of R18 million to establish burns units at Ceres Hospital, the Worcester Hospital, and Worcester Community Day Centre.

The project was 100% donor-funded and included the construction of the

units, the purchase of medical equipment, and specialist burns training for nurses and allied medical professionals who will provide treatment. The project is aimed at building local capacity to deliver timely, high-quality burns care to children closer to home.

Currently, the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital is the only

dedicated paediatric burns service in the Western Cape. Each year, 1 000

children are treated as inpatients, and between 4 000 and 5 000 receive

outpatient care. After initially receiving emergency and follow-on care at

local clinics and hospitals, children with burn wounds may need referral to

Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital for specialised care. This places considerable financial stress on families in addition to the already stressful nature of the injury. A delay in specialist care also puts these children at risk of infection and impedes healing.

CEO of the Children’s Hospital Trust said, “One of the most valuable lessons we’ve learned is that meaningful change only happens when we engage early and when we listen. Through co-design, side-by-side planning, and a willingness to hear what’s really needed on the ground, we’ve created something that isn’t just technically sound. It’s practical, embraced, and truly useful to those who will be delivering the care every day. The feedback from the Ceres team is that they feel more confident, better equipped, and deeply supported.”

This new unit at Ceres Hospital will reduce the impact of treatment on

families. It will also mean reduced pressure of up to 30% burns patients being treated at RCWMCH, freeing up the most specialised staff and equipment to treat the children with the most severe wounds. IF local facilities had the necessary infrastructure, equipment, and expertise, children with minor burns or in need of follow-up care could be treated closer to home.

Western Cape Minister for Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger said, “This new burns unit in Ceres is bringing life-saving care closer to rural communities and ensuring that children can receive specialised support, without having to travel far away from home and family. Together we are building a healthier Western Cape for children.”

She further said, "This project is a powerful example of what we can achieve when government and civil society come together with a shared purpose. These partnerships are not just valuable, they are essential in helping us reach more communities, respond to real needs, and build a more responsive and compassionate healthcare system."

Local staff members also expressed their excitement about the impact that the new unit would have on their community.

Ceres Hospital Medical Manager, Dr Elton Titus, said, “The Burns Unit is a welcome addition to healthcare in the Witzenberg. With the unit and the

training offered as part of the bigger project, we’ve established a platform

for improved care to patients with burn wounds, offered by a multidisciplinary team.”

Family Physician Dr Jani Fouché said, “This unit is dedicated to burns cases and will be used for this sole purpose. Wonderful new equipment, like a wash bay, ventilator and point-of-care ultrasound, adds diagnostic and therapeutic value. The staff is excited to bring better care to burn cases in rural areas, especially in the initial phases of treatment.”