Guest JF, et al. - From The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database, researchers randomly selected cohort of 260 patients who had 294 evaluable burns to conduct this retrospective cohort analysis examining health outcomes, resource use and corresponding costs attributable to managing burns in clinical practice, from initial presentation. In 63% of patients’ records, incomplete diagnosis was reported as the location, depth and size of the burns were missing; this made it difficult to say whether the time to healing was excessive or what other confounding factors may have contributed to the delayed healing. Overall, healing within 24 months was reported in 70% of all the burns; the mean time to healing was 7.8 months per burn. Sixty-six percent of burns were initially managed in the community and the other 34% were managed at accident and emergency departments. Subsequent management of patients’ wounds was predominantly performed by practice nurses and hospital outpatient clinics. No dressings was documented in 45% of burns. In clinical practice, the mean NHS cost of wound care over 24 months from initial presentation was an estimated £16 924 per burn; the cost ranged from £12 002 to £40 577 for a healed and unhealed wound, respectively. Observations thereby highlight the necessity for education of general practice clinicians on the management and care of burn wounds.