Survey of Attitudes to Self-Harm Patients Within a Burns and Plastic Surgery Department

This study aims to build on the small body of evidence in previously published study exploring professional attitudes toward deliberate self-harm (DSH) patients from a predominantly burns and plastic surgery perspective. The authors distributed a short paper-based questionnaire within the burns and plastics department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, where the authors gathered a mixture of qualitative and quantitative data surrounding this issue. Professionals generally agree that DSH patients require input from multiple services and that surgery is not always the best option. The most common frustration among healthcare professionals regarding the care of DSH patients includes inconsistencies in care, lack of training/understanding, and the need for a policy to guide and standardize treatment. Improving training in line with UK National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance along with introducing guidelines for the care of DSH patients may help smooth out inconsistencies in care and reduce frustrations among staff members.