James Cracknell - life still a battle......

A recent article by  James Cracknell for the Daily Mirror. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/james-cracknell-on-battling-back-from-horrific-1156454 highlights the ongoing difficulties he has with his brain injury and the effect it has on his family.

Although James acquired his brain injury as an adult, many of the issues he talks about are the same for families affected by childhood acquired brain injury.  He and his family have had to adapt their lives around Jame's brain injury who still suffers with fatigue, seizures and emotional difficulties.

We need people like James Cracknell who are not afraid to talk about brain injury to champion the cause not only for adults but for the many thousands of children and young people who acquire brain injury every year.

I would urge you to read the article


Lisa Turan
CEO

CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO IMPROVE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY

UKABIF has details on its website of how you can support the Campaign so please visit

3 July 2012

“We’re demanding immediate action on a local and national level to force change” said Professor Michael Barnes, Chair of the United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum (UKABIF) and Professor of Neurological Rehabilitation, Hunters Moor Rehabilitation Ltd, at the July launch of UKABIF’s Campaign ‘Life after Brain Injury? Improve Services Now’.
Over one million people live in the UK with the effects of Acquired Brain Injury at an estimated minimum cost of £4.1 billion.
Professor Barnes continued: “People with an Acquired Brain Injury need access to specialist rehabilitation but these services vary considerably around the UK and this is having a detrimental impact on the how well patients ultimately recover”.

UKABIF aims to promote better understanding of all aspects of Acquired Brain Injury and the Campaign’s Manifesto entitled ‘Life after Brain Injury – A Way Forward’ outlines the organisation’s urgent demands.  “We know that patients benefit from acute and early access to specialist neurological services but this crucial aspect of patient management continues to be overlooked” said Professor Barnes. “Our Manifesto presents four key recommendations which we hope health professionals, purchasers and providers of services and the general public will support.  By working together locally we can improve services and ensure that people with an ABI have the best possible treatment” he concluded. 

The Manifesto is asking for:   

·         Appropriate commissioning for specialist brain injury rehabilitation should be made compulsory and each clinical commissioning group should have a named neurological lead

·         Funded National Neuro Networks should be established to ensure neurological pathways are available throughout the stages of recovery (patient journey)

·         A National Audit of Rehabilitation should be carried out and the collection and reporting of accurate data on newly Acquired Brain Injuries made compulsory by all providers along the patient journey, from Acute to Community services*

·         A review is required of The Health Select Committee Report and the National Service Framework (NSF) for Long Term Neurological Conditions.

*As implemented with Stroke though Healthcare Emergency Planning and the Care Quality
 Commission

UKABIF has details on its website of how you can support the Campaign so please visit www.ukabif.org.uk to find out what you can do to help.   

ENDS

Notes to editor An Acquired Brain Injury is defined as brain damage caused by events after birth and can result in cognitive, physical, emotional, or behavioural impairments leading to permanent or temporary changes in functioning.  Acute and early access to local, specialist rehabilitation is essential to ensure optimal recovery, whilst maximal recovery over a lifetime can result in significant savings.  

UKABIF aims to promote better understanding of all aspects of Acquired Brain Injury; to educate, inform and provide networking opportunities for professionals, service providers, planners and policy makers and to campaign for better services in the UK.  UKABIF is a membership organisation and charity, established in 1998 by a coalition of organisations working in the field of Acquired Brain Injury.

Hard copy of the Manifesto is available.  Spokespeople and patient case studies are also available.

For further information, please contact:   Chloë Hayward, UKABIF
T: 0845 6080788     M: 07903 887655
E: info@ukabif.org.uk
www.ukabif.org.uk

Louise Blakeborough, Chapter Five
T: 01306 731800     M: 07831 444789
E: lblakeborough@chapterfive.co.uk

www.ukabif.org.uk to find out what you can do to help.