UKABIF contribute to Govt report on Concussion in sport

The United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum (UKABIF) has welcomed a report ‘Concussion in sport’ published by the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee today (22^nd July 2021).

The Committee took oral evidence from twenty-seven clinicians, academics, campaigning organisations, sports people and representatives of sporting associations including UKABIF Trustee, Dr Michael Grey between March and May and written evidence from a further fifty-one individuals and organisations.

The report made several clear points as follows:

·      Each sport is left to itself to decide on correct protocols for concussion/brain injury and on what should happen when participants should return to play. There is no over-arching government action or advice and an absence of employer responsibility.

·      Those playing sport do not have enough information about concussion/brain injury and its long-term consequences

·      The NHS does not have standardised procedures or staff training about concussion/brain injury and data collection is poor

·      There is a lack of transparency in published research funding and research evaluation

Dr Michael Grey, Reader in Rehabilitation at the University of East Anglia and UKABIF Trustee said, “We at UKABIF are very pleased that the DCMS committee have made recommendations based on the APPG Time For Change report (England and Wales) and my oral evidence. 

“We are encouraged that the committee have accepted (repeated) our call for sport-related ABI research that is both independent and transparent; and for the need to upgrade health professionals’ knowledge in this area. We welcome the call for Government to take a leading role in this regard.” 

DCMS Committee Chair Julian Knight MP said that the committee were shocked by the evidence from athletes whose future health was put on the line in the interests of achieving sporting success. He also said, “The Health and Safety Executive is responsible by law, however risk management appears to have been delegated to the National Governing Bodies, such as the Football Association (FA). That is a dereliction of duty which must change. The failure by these sporting organisations to address the issue of acquired brain injury is compounded by a lack of action by Government. Too often it has failed to take action on player welfare and instead relied on unaccountable sporting bodies. As concerning is grassroots sport with mass participation where we’ve found negligible effort to track brain injuries and monitor long-term impacts.”

The recommendations made by the report are:

• The Government should establish UK-wide minimum standard definition for concussion that all sports must use and adapt for their sport.
• The Government should deliver a comprehensive communications campaign to ensure all those involved in sport can access best practice information. This should signpost people to advice on what action to take.
• Health and Safety Executive should work with National Governing Bodies of all sports to establish a national framework for the reporting of sporting injuries
• UK Sport should take a governance role in assuring that all sports it funds raise awareness of the dangers of concussion effectively
• UK Sport should pay for a medical officer at every major sporting event with responsibility to ensure the safety of participants and the power to prevent athletes at risk from competing
• NHS England should review the way it collects data about concussion and concussion-related brain injury
• NHS England and the Faculty of Exercise and Sports Medicine should prepare a learning module on best practice for treating and advising those with concussive trauma and ensure all GPs and A&E clinicians take this module within 2 years
• The Government should convene a single research fund to co-ordinate and fund research to ensure it is independent and excellence-driven as well as being accessible to all.
• The Government should convene a specialist group on concussion drawing on campaign groups and relevant scientific expertise.

The report’s recommendations closely mirror those made in the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Acquired Brain Injury’s (APPG for ABI) Report: Acquired Brain Injury and Neurorehabilitation: Time for Change which was published in 2018. Chris Bryant, MP and Chair of the APPG for ABI said, “I’m delighted that the committee agrees with the argument we have been making for some time. The evidence grows ever stronger that we need to take concussion in sport far more seriously. I hope the government takes note and acts quickly on all the recommendations.”

Dr Michael Grey added: “We are surprised by the response of Public Health England. Sport-related brain injury is not restricted to elite and professional athletes – millions of people participate in sport each and every weekend. This is therefore a public health issue.

“UKABIF stands to work with others including the Government to action and implement these recommendations. We welcome the proposals for UK wide protocols and we stand ready to help.”