The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health
and Social Care (Steve Brine):...Acquired brain
injury—ABI—is an injury that takes place after birth in an
otherwise healthy brain. It includes traumatic brain injuries such
as those caused by road traffic accidents, falls or assaults, and
non-traumatic brain injuries related to illnesses or medical
conditions, including meningitis, stroke or brain
tumours. While prevalence estimates for ABI are
quite hard to make, the number living with it is thought to be over
500,000 and could be as high as 1 million people. The total cost of
brain injury in the UK has been estimated by our officials to be at
least £1 billion per year...
Mrs (Mid Derbyshire)
(Con): My hon. Friend talks about the cost of brain
injuries. My constituent Stuart Tranter asked me to lobby the
Government to put more money into brain tumour research, which
has been very much the poor relation, and I have been successful.
I congratulate the Government on having doubled that money since
,
who used to serve on the Opposition Benches and then went to the
House of Lords, died. I am very grateful to the Minister and the
Department for putting so much money into that much needed
research.
: I thank my hon.
Friend. This is the first time I have been at the Dispatch Box
since
passed away. As I said during the debate when she was sitting in
the Under Gallery with her lovely family, I did not know her well
but the one time I met her I was left in no doubt about her
determination on this subject. It is great that we are able to do
so much. I pass on my condolences to Jess, her daughter, whom I
have got to know a little, and her family. The trauma of the
immediate is horrible and it goes on for a long time. Our
thoughts are with them. I thank my hon. Friend for what she has
said. We will do well by ,
especially through the money that we will put into research to
try to instigate new research projects, which have traditionally
been thin on the ground in this area. We are hoping to stimulate
the research market.
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