Driving change for brain injury survivors

The second part of UKABIF's 'Time for Change' Summit took place on Monday 16th November. It was chaired by UKABIF Trustee and brain injury survivor James Piercy who introduced the day as a focus on progress made to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)'s report ‘Acquired Brain Injury and Neurorehabilitation: Time for Change.’

Chris Bryant, MP and Chair of the APPG led the way by reinforcing the fact that 1.4 million people live with a brain injury; a ‘hidden epidemic that is real’ and neurorehabilitation is one of the most cost-effective interventions available to the National Health Service.  Chris highlighted that Covid-19 is an opportunity to improve neurorehabilitation as many more individuals will need access to services, especially in the community, but that the use of the rehabilitation prescription continues to be patchy, with many not receiving them on discharge from hospital.

Gill Robinson OBE, Education Adviser Education, SEND Consultancy, and Ali Ashley, Co-Chair of the National Network of Special School Teaching Schools and Head teacher Hebden Bridge Green School discussed the lack of brain injury information and training in schools and the need for preparation, collaboration and careful coordination involving the student, their parents/carers, the school and a wide range of professionals in order to support the child or young person with ABI.

The prevalence of brain injury in the prisons is ‘shockingly high’ commented Chris.  It has now been agreed that prisoners will be screened for brain injury as they enter the criminal justice system to enable prison personnel provide the required support.  Supt.  Stan Gilmour, Head of Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit said: “We need to work together to support the needs of people with brain injury and the Criminal Justice System needs to led by public health approaches that keep people in the right place, with the right kind of support”.  Speaking on behalf of the work of The Disabilities Trust with female prisoners who are victims of domestic abuse,  Jocelyn Gaynor, Head of Foundation said: “We need to ensure the screening is sensitive and trauma-informed.  We all need to work together to better support these individuals”.             

Chris was critical of the sports bodies’ response to concussion and brain injury, with the exception of the rugby union.  “The Football Association’s response has been shocking - they have been knowingly negligent.  If they don’t get it right then we’ll have to legislate like the USA” said Chris.  This was reinforced by Dr Michael Grey, Reader in Rehabilitation Neuroscience, University of East Anglia who said: “We need to reduce the risk in football, particularly for young children.  We need to keep up the campaigns and awareness, as well as pressure on government in order to make change”.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has now confirmed that assessors have been, and are continuing to be, trained in brain injury.  Chris commented: “It’s vital that assessors understand brain injury and how it affects life not only on a day-by-day basis, but also long-term”.  ABI impacts on so many government departments and Chris concluded: “Michael Gove has promised to get a cross-departmental ministerial committee together and I’m determined that this will happen”.  

The conference was sponsored by Cygnet, Irwin Mitchell, Leigh Day and NeuroProactive.  

For more information, please contact: info@ukabif.org.uk