GOVERNMENT DEBATE ON ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY
The government debate on acquired brain injury (ABI) took place at the House of Commons on Monday 18 June. It was seen as a watershed moment in what is now, a crisis of support for those affected by ABI.
The house heard impassioned speeches from MPs from all parties expressing their support for the issues associated with ABI. Powerful and moving accounts and experiences of MPs and their constituents. were heard.
The ABI Alliance have been calling for more action to be taken to ensure Rehabilitation Prescriptions are more effective for patients so we were delighted the issue was raised during the debate and the need for Major Trauma Centres.
The overall message was clear it is an invisible epidemic in urgent need of political action to address the variation in care and support for those dealing with the devastating impact of ABI. This covers treatment, support. welfare and education as well as criminal offending.
A coordinated task force was proposed to deal with the impact of this crisis, as a tangible way forward to resolving the issues raised by the debate.
So much is needed to be done and this is just the start, so we are grateful to all the MPs involved, as well as everyone calling on their political representatives to attend.
This is clearly a watershed moment for efforts to secure more support at every level for those affected by ABI such as funding and research.
To read the Hansard report click here: goo.gl/KHvo21
APPG on ABI Report - Time for Change 2018
“Acquired Brain Injury is an invisible epidemic, and we need to ensure that the neurorehabilitation services required following a brain injury are ‘fit for purpose’ throughout the UK” said Chris Bryant MP and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Acquired Brain Injury (APPG on ABI) speaking today in London at the launch of a report ‘Time for Change: Acquired Brain Injury and Neurorehabilitation’.
Brain Injury Survivors, charities, clinicians, campaigners, academics and MPs attended the launch of the report, where a short film was played showing the cause and effect of acquired brain injuries.
Cause and Effect Short Film
There are more than 1.3 million people living with the effects of brain injury at a cost to the UK economy of £15 billion per annum or 10% of the National Health Service (NHS) budget. The excellent advances in emergency and acute medicine mean that many more children, young people and adults now survive with an ABI, however, many of these individuals require early and continued access to neurorehabilitation to optimise all aspects of their physical, cognitive, behavioural and psychosocial recovery, and to maximise their long-term potential.
Neurorehabilitation is one of the most cost-effective interventions available on the NHS, but there are large variations in the provision and access to neurorehabilitation services across the UK.
The report outlines the critical role of neurorehabilitation in the ABI care pathway, and the need for Rehabilitation Prescriptions for all brain injury survivors following discharge from acute care so they know what neurorehabilitation they need. The report reviews the implications for children and young people with ABI when most of their neurorehabilitation takes place in the education system. The high incidence of ABI amongst offenders is discussed, as is the impact of neurorehabilitation on behavioural change and reoffending. The current issues in sport-related concussion are outlined as well as the need for an improved welfare system that is easily accessible.
The report summarises the key issues and makes several recommendations. Chris Bryant concluded: “ABI impacts on many government departments so a task force is required to address the issues and recommendations as a matter of urgency. The APPG on ABI intends to unite all the departments involved in order to drive change for brain injury survivors”.
Copies of the report can be obtained from: www.ukabif.org.uk/campaigns/appg-report