RECOVERY & REHABILITATION
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UKABIF Continues to Drive Change
is comprehensive and consistent throughout the he United Kingdom Acquired Brain UK. UKABIF took part in a first ever joint roundtable Injury Forum (UKABIF) continues to raise awareness of ABI in parliament and amongst of APPGs on neurological conditions where the need for a national strategy and central leadership policy makers. Its primary objective is to for rehabilitation was discussed with agreement to ensure that people with ABI have early access to local, continue lobbying for progress. The charity also specialist neurorehabilitation and follow up services in continues to lobby for the use of rehabilitation the community. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic prescriptions. has highlighted the importance of neurorehabilitation in the continuum of patient-centred care, with SUPPORTING THE RETURN TO EDUCATION rehabilitation professionals having a crucial role in FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ABI assisting patient recovery from Covid-19-associated disabling effects. May 2021 sees the launch of a much needed resource UKABIF’s current lobbying programmes follow on produced by the National Acquired Brain Injury Learning from the publication of and Education Syndicate Dr Andrew Bateman, UKABIF Chair said: the report ‘Acquired (N-ABLES). UKABIF Brain Injury and established N-ABLES in ABI is a chronic condition with Neurorehabilitation 2019 to raise awareness ‘hidden’ disabilities and life-long – Time for Change’ of the education needs consequences. There’s a great deal of published in October and support required work to be done to change the way 2018 by the All-Party by children and young neurorehabilitation services are delivered people with ABI, and to Parliamentary Group on Acquired Brain Injury but I’m proud of the progress that UKABIF facilitate the report’s (APPG on ABI). UKABIF recommendations. Most has made to date provides the secretariat children/young people for the APPG on ABI and has been instrumental in with ABI return to mainstream education. Their return ensuring the focus remains on achieving the report’s to education is a significant part of the recovery process, recommendations. and a smooth transition is essential. The return can The ‘Time for Change’ report called for immediate be challenging for school professionals and requires action to address the issues surrounding the provision preparation, collaboration and careful coordination of neurorehabilitation services for children, young involving the child/young person, their parents/carers, people and adults with ABI in the UK, focussing on the school and a wide range of professionals. The education, criminal justice, sport-related concussion new booklet and poster ‘ABI Return – Children and and the welfare benefits system. These issues span Young People with Acquired Brain Injury – guiding many government departments including the Ministry their return to education’ will help all those involved of Defence, the Department for Work and Pensions, to prepare for, and achieve, a successful return and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local enable the student to progress their recovery. The guide Government, the Department for Education, the is relevant for ages 4-18 years, when the child/young Ministry of Justice, and the Home Office. person is in hospital, recovering at home, or in the early stages of returning to education. Although countries DRIVING CHANGE IN NEUROREHABILITATION within the UK have different education systems and SERVICES policies, the guiding principles outlined apply to them all. A copy of the booklet/poster is available from A national review of neurorehabilitation is recommended in the report to ensure service provision www.ukabif.org.uk/ABIRETURN
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