MP Chris Bryant calls on the Government to ease the pain of families affected by brain injury during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rhonnda MP Chris Bryant spiced up the Commons with what he wants - what he “really, really wants” - to ease the “phenomenal” pain of families affected by brain injury during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking at Westminster Hall yesterday (24Nov20), Chris, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Acquired Brain Injury (APPG on ABI), said he was “sorry” for sounding like “a popular beat combo from a previous generation” - a reference to 1990s chart-toppers, The Spice Girls.
But he made no apology for laying down 6 demands for prompt Government action to secure effective neurorehabilitation provision across the UK throughout the pandemic.
Those demands were:
- Inclusion of neurorehabilitation among the 12 Covid-19 protected health specialities.
- A national neurorehabilitation strategy.
- A national neurorehabilitation lead - a single person in charge.
- A mandatory system for commissioning neurorehabilitation.
- Coherent, consistent, UK-wide approach to community neurorehabilitation.
- Government-guaranteed reinstatement of all neurorehabilitation services and jobs post-pandemic.
Praising the Government for launching major trauma centres that were saving “probably in the region of 800 to 900 lives” every year, Chris warned, however: “Many of those people come out with brain injuries, and the pain for the individual and the family surrounding them can be phenomenal.”
He revealed he’d already spoken to Cabinet Office Minister, Michael Gove about the need for a new committee representing all Government departments linked to neurorehabilitation including:
- Department for Work and Pensions.
- Ministry of Defence (veterans with brain injuries).
- Departments for Education and Health and Social Care.
- The Treasury.
- The Ministry of Housing.
- Communities and Local Government.
- Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Members also heard about the Time for Change agenda, drawn up by the APPG on ABI and UKABIF, the UK Acquired Brain Injury Forum in January 2019, which “demonstrates the importance of neurorehabilitation, both in acute settings and in community cases”. [1]
And Chris spoke of the “great joy” that families feel when a loved one’s life is saved only to discover “that their quality of life is not what they would want it to be.”
He added: “The problem this year, in particular, is that during the first lockdown, a lot of people with brain injuries were discharged early.
“I understand why it happened because hospitals had to make beds available for people with Covid. Bur lots of units were closed.”
Citing figures in the east of England and in the Midlands, where his research was based, Chris stated between 50% and 100% of neurorehabilitation beds were closed down, with patients “swiftly” discharged into the community.
“The number of people acquiring brain injuries during this time […] has not slowed down; if anything, it has sped up.”
We have always said in our all-party parliamentary group that brain injury is a hidden epidemic. 
“Lots of the problems associated with brain injury are not visible, so it is all the more important that we dig down into these issues.
“The waiting list for community neurorehabilitation is now 4 to 6 months. That is a phenomenal length of time for families to be providing care.”
“We now know that Covid itself is causing neurocognitive problems for many people - not just people with long Covid, but those with other symptoms as well.
“As covid develops […] it is likely that there will be more, not fewer, people who need neurorehabilitation.”
Responding to Chris’s demands, Minister for Care, Helen Whately acknowledged brain injury had “a huge impact on people’s lives.”
She agreed timely and appropriate neurorehabilitation was “absolutely crucial for improving the outcomes for people with brain injury,” and confirmed a national rehabilitation lead had been appointed – Chief Allied Health Professions Officer, Suzanne Rastrick.
And she paid tribute to charities Headway, the United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum and The Disabilities Trust for their work in raising neurorehabilitation awareness and providing support to families.
The pandemic has had a real impact on the care and treatment of people with acquired brain injuries ...
The Minister promised: “I will work with my officials to drive stronger co-ordination for ABI across Government.
“Guidance has gone out from NHS England and NHS Improvement and the Association of British Neurologists, and every effort is being made to catch up on delayed care.
“I will look into the point […] made about [Chris’s] concern that services are not yet up and running.”
Regarding local and national differences in services, Mrs Whately confirmed that the majority of rehabilitation is commissioned locally.
“To support that, NHS England has produced guidance setting out what good rehabilitation looks like and what services people should expect. Community services clearly play a crucial role.”
More on Chris’s calls for action here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-24/debates/0BA6B415-A17D-42CC-9754-F6A321782A83/Covid-19AcquiredBrainInjury
Click here to head back to our talking heads page.
We are passionate about neurological rehabilitation; our neuro OT blog has been designed to help us share our collective wisdom to influence, educate and spark moments of discussion and reflection.
If you are interested in or have been affected by brain injury, if you are passionate about occupational therapy, brain injury and neurological rehabilitation you are very welcome… come on in and join us!
Related Articles
Expert stress and anxiety advice for brain injury survivors during the covid 19- pandemic
Treating yourself with compassion - Part one
Treating yourself with compassion - Part two