A clinical psychologist can help with a range of psychological difficulties when your child is experiences a burn injury.  
Children often experience
- Nightmares or distressing dreams or images about the event.
- Difficulties in adjusting to the effects of the burn.
- Worries about scarring and appearance.
- Worries about how to deal with other peoples reactions.
- Worries about going back to school.
Similarly, parents/carers often have worries about
- Their children’s health, future, development and school.
- Relationships with other children.
- Problems with the children’s behaviour.
- Feelings of guilt or responsibility about what has happened
- The impact of the injury on the relationships within the family.
 
How can I access the service? 
The clinical psychology team try to meet with every family on the Burns Unit (Ward 11) to see if there is anything we can do to support you and/or your child either during your stay on the ward or when you return home. During this meeting we would introduce the role of clinical psychology and begin to provide support and advice. We also see families who come to our consultant and scar outreach team clinics. If you would like to speak to a clinical psychologist, please ask one of the members of the team eg. Surgeons, specialist nurses, physiotherapists or occupational therapists who will put you in touch with the psychology team. Or you can contact the psychology team directly using the information below.  
Appointments with the psychologist can be in a number of locations, including hospital wards, outpatient clinics, medical clinics, home visits and schools. We now offer online video appointments using the platform Attend Anywhere. The location of your appointment will depend on the reason for your appointment, the distance you live from the Royal Victoria Infirmary and how frequently you are medically reviewed by the team. 
Contact
How to contact psychology team: 
Psychology in Health Care   
Old Childrens Outpatients  
Office Block 26  
Royal Victoria Infirmary   
Queen Victoria Road   
Newcastle   
NE1 4LP   
   
Tel: 0191 282 4081  
Opening times:   
Tuesday 9am – 5pm  
Wednesday 9am – 5pm  
Thursday 9am – 5pm  
Friday 9am – 5pm  
 Online mental health support 
The Grafter’s Club
The Grafter’s Club for children who have suffered burns injuries and their families in the North East and Cumbria.
Changing faces
Changing Faces is the website for the national charity supporting people with disfigurements of the face and body.
Supporting Children with Burns
Supporting children with burns can support with parents and carers to support families of children with burns.
The Children’s Burn Trust
The Children’s Burn Trust is a registered burns charity.  They provide direct family support and information, and sign-posting to services and other support organisations.  They also provide national guidance on prevention and rehabilitation, and financially support Burns Clubs. CBT have a closed Facebook support group for parents of children who have sustained a burn injury.
Hello again
Hello again is a website was created within the Northern Region to support young people with moving from children’s to adults’ burns services when they reach 18 years of age. There are lots of resources and guidance to support young people in taking control of their healthcare and to prepare for the differences between children’s and adults’ services.
HealthTalk
HealthTalk is a charity-run website that offers stories from children and families who have sustained a burn, providing a real-life account as to what it is like to live life after a burn injury.
Young Minds
YoungMinds website has lots of advice about what to do if you are having difficulties with how you feel. This charity has information for both young people, parents and those who work with young people.
Kooth.com
Kooth is an anonymous site for children and young people aged between 11 and 24 which can help children and young people feel safe in exploring their concerns and seeking support from professionals. This service is available 24/7 and lets young people provide peer-to-peer support through moderated online discussion boards. Support can be offered through online counselling via chat-based messaging, sessions are available to be booked or drop-in.   
Useful resources
Leaflets are available on ward or from Burns team.
- Clinical psychology support within the paediatric burns centre and beyond
- Support services and groups available in paediatric burns care
- Transitional care for young people in the Northern Regional Burns Service.
