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'New Me' theme for this year's Action for Brain Injury Week
People are being placed at the heart of this year’s Action for Brain Injury Week, which runs from today, 8th May, until 14th May. Each year a different theme is chosen by Headway, who organise the campaign, and throughout this week they will be showcasing the experiences that brain injury survivors, their carers and their families have been through, the impact that the injury has had and the various support services that helped them build their new life. Dan Thompson, Injury Partner, explains here why the week is so important in raising awareness of the symptoms and the long terms effects of a brain injury.
Traumatic or acquired brain injury
“There are many ways in which a person can suffer an acquired brain injury (ABI),” explains Dan. “An acquired brain injury can occur due to a medical incident, infection, tumour or stroke. An ABI can also include traumatic brain injuries which are the result of a blow to the head from an external force. “We see examples of this arising from a slip or fall, an accident at work, following a sporting accident or in a road traffic collision.”
Recent research has shown an increase in the number of hospital admissions due to acquired brain injuries in the last 10 years. “According to figures from Headway, there were 348,934 admissions to hospital due to an ABI in 2013-14,” continues Dan. “This has increased by 10% since 2005-6 and worryingly equates to one admission every 90 seconds. Further research from Headway shows that in 2013, there were approximately 1 million people living with the long term effects of a brain injury in the UK.”
Action for Brain Injury Week
The aim for Headway’s campaign this year is to use real examples of survivors, their families and their carers to raise awareness of the importance of accessing medical advice as soon as possible after an incident, and to demonstrate the life changing consequences of a brain injury.
“While many accident victims suffer physical symptoms, the effects of a traumatic brain injury can cause other lifestyle changes, which are not always immediately obvious,” continues Dan. “Family and friends are the most likely to notice changes to personality and behaviour. People may also notice a change in their loved one’s ability to remember things, in their communication and speech, and they may also suffer from fatigue.
“The theme for this year’s Action for Brain Injury Week is highly appropriate, as in a number of cases the survivor is starting a whole new way of life, along with their family. The long term consequences of a brain injury will vary depending on the individual circumstances; we recognise that every injury is different and the impact on the person’s life will also be different. It’s likely that there will need to be medical procedures, time off work, rehabilitation and counselling for the injured person as well as their family. We can help with all of these concerns. Our Serious Injury team has years of experience in claiming compensation for survivors of brain injuries where the injury has been caused by a blow to the head, whether that be due to an accident at work, a fall or on the road. We will also offer the injured person access to rehabilitation services, through which they will be allocated with their own case manager who will co-ordinate treatment between medical practitioners. We can also allocate them with their own support worker meaning they will be part of an important support network benefiting them and their family.”
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury and you’d like to discuss your options, you can contact Dan or the other members of the Serious Injury team on 0800 91 92 30 or email injuryteam@warnergoodman.co.uk. To find out more about Action for Brain Injury Week, you can visit their website or social media, using the hashtag #ABIWeek.
ENDS
This is for information purposes only and is no substitute for, and should not be interpreted as, legal advice. All content was correct at the time of publishing and we cannot be held responsible for any changes that may invalidate this article.