Parliamentary Reception Highlights Momentum Behind Acquired Brain Injury Action Plan

London, July 2025 – Progress on the national approach to Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) took centre stage last week at a reception hosted by the Acquired Brain Injury All-Party Parliamentary Group (ABI APPG) in the House of Commons.

Chaired by Sir John Hayes MP, the event brought together parliamentarians, clinicians, researchers, campaigners and individuals with lived experience of ABI to discuss the ongoing development of the Government’s ABI Action Plan and the urgent need for improved neurorehabilitation services across the UK.

During the reception, Sir John confirmed that a date for a dedicated House of Commons debate on ABI will be announced soon. He also stressed the importance of moving beyond rhetoric, stating: “We need outcomes, not just more dialogue.” The APPG is due to meet with Minister Ashley Dalton, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention, in September.

The reception followed a formal response from the Minister to recent calls from the ABI APPG and the United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum (UKABIF), prompted by the publication of the Right to Rehab report in May. In her letter, the Minister acknowledged the life-changing impact ABI can have on individuals and their families, and committed the Department of Health and Social Care to developing a dedicated ABI Action Plan with clear deliverables. The work will sit alongside the broader ten-year health plan.

More than 60 people attended the event, held in the Attlee Suite in Parliament, where attendees had the opportunity to engage with MPs and hear insights from an expert panel.

A central feature of the reception was the presentation of findings from a newly commissioned report, the Cost to the UK Economy of ABI, authored by Jennifer Misak and presented by Dr Hope Kent (University of Exeter) and Dr Aly Norman (University of Plymouth). Commissioned by the ABI APPG and UKABIF, the report revealed that:

• ABI costs the UK economy £43 billion annually
• Well-being costs related to ABI amount to £91.5 billion
• Neurorehabilitation yields a 16:1 return on investment

The report sets out several key recommendations, including:

• A statutory right to rehabilitation in every UK community
• Dedicated funding mechanisms for community rehabilitation
• A cross-Whitehall standing committee to drive national coordination
• Improved data collection to support commissioning and policy
• Systematic data gathering across services

Also featured were four members of the Young Experts by Experience in ABI group – Victoria, Emma, Eden and Amelia – who gave powerful and personal accounts of the challenges faced by young people living with ABI. Their testimonies underscored the urgent need for better support, access to services, and recognition of hidden disabilities.

Luke Griggs, Chief Executive of Headway UK, presented findings from the charity’s recent report, When Funding Fails, which highlights the severe financial pressures on brain injury services across the country. Based on a survey of local Headway groups, the report warned that community brain injury services are "at breaking point" due to chronic underfunding and rising demand.

Baroness Estelle Morris, Vice Chair of the ABI APPG, also took part in the panel. Attendees included over 20 MPs and Peers; Sir Chris Bryant MP, whose earlier Private Members’ Bill led to the Government’s original commitment to developing a national strategy on acquired brain injury was present at the meeting.

UKABIF Chief Executive Chloe Hayward commented:
"The reception demonstrated the strength of commitment across the sector to driving real change. We’re encouraged by the Government’s renewed engagement and are looking forward to the meeting with the Minister in September. This is a critical moment for improving services and outcomes for people with an acquired brain injury.”