- New government ambition to prevent and limit the impact of
acquired brain injuries
- A call for evidence will be launched to identify ways to
improve services and support
- Those with experience of working with patients with injuries
are invited to help collaborate
People whose lives have been affected by acquired brain injuries
(ABI) are being invited to share their experiences and give ideas
on how to improve the care and support available.
The government is asking people to come forward with their views
on how to ensure a better quality of life for those who have
experienced brain damage after birth.
Acquired brain injuries can be caused by traumas such as
road traffic accidents, assaults and falls, or by medical issues
like tumours or diseases, such as meningitis.
More support is needed to find ways to improve services and also
increase rates of prevention and recognising symptoms.
The request for engagement is going out to those with ABI, their
families, healthcare professionals and charities over the next 12
weeks.
It will provide an opportunity to hear first-hand from the
people most affected to help find out what services are
needed, where there may be gaps, and how the government can
support services to help fill these.
Minister for Care and Mental Health said:
“It is absolutely essential people living with acquired
brain injury get the best possible care and treatment and that we
take steps to prevent these injuries wherever possible.
“Together the cross-government programme board and the call for
evidence will allow us to deliver a strategy to address
issues that matter most to those with acquired brain
injuries and other neurological conditions.”
A new programme board, jointly chaired by Minister for Care and
Mental Health and Labour MP , will look to publish a new
strategy to reduce the amount of injuries sustained whilst also
improving the experiences of those with acquired brain injuries.
Views are also being sought on extending the strategy to include
other neurological conditions.
MP for Rhonnda, and joint chair of the programme board,
Chris Bryant, said:
“I’m delighted that the government is starting to pull together a
cross government strategy on acquired brain injury.
“We need people to come forward with ideas and suggestions based
on their experience of brain injury as practitioners, patients or
family members so we can get this strategy right.
“I urge everyone to take part if they think they have an insight
to offer.”
Chloe Hayward, executive director of the UK Acquired
Brain Injury Forum, said:
“We are very pleased the government is giving
acquired brain injury the attention it deserves with the ABI
Strategy.
“The call for evidence will help the panel to focus and
prioritise their efforts, so we need people with lived experience
of brain injury – whether, survivors, carers or professionals -
to participate. This will ensure the panel has the best
available information to develop their strategy.”
The ABI strategy will be the latest step forward in improving
responses to brain injuries. It comes after the Department of
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport published its action plan for
tackling concussion in sport to help reduce the risks of head
injuries.
In that plan new protocols will be put in place and steps taken
to improve the understanding, awareness, prevention and treatment
of concussion in sport at all levels.
Those leading on the concussion protocols will also support this
strategy and call for evidence as the government does all it can
to reduce risks, better understand symptoms and improve treatment
and services.
