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So far Opinion Editor has created 178 blog entries.

Living with a spinal cord injury and maintaining good mental health during lockdown

In conjunction with Mental Health Day 2020, Irwin Mitchell organised a webinar offering valuable insights into maintaining good mental health for those affected by Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).

The speakers were a mixture of professionals and people living with a SCI. Dr Parashar Ramanuj, Consultant Psychiatrist gave an in depth clinical insight as to what a person who has recently sustained an SCI may be dealing with and what ‘coping’ really means Sophie Lester, a case manager and spinal occupational therapist provided some really helpful guidance on how to maintain good mental health alongside rehabilitation and sustaining a healthy balance.
By |2024-07-04T17:45:57+01:0019 November 2020|News, Legal|
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Osseointegration for amputees – key considerations in a schedule of loss

Richard Biggs, senior associate at Irwin Mitchell, takes a closer look at the practical benefits and cost issues related to osseointegration.

I have considered for several years as to how to plead a schedule of loss on an amputation case where a Claimant may choose to undergo osseointegration in the future. Osseointegration is described as follows:- (source London International Patient Services):“OsseoIntegration is an operative procedure used to eliminate the need for a conventional socket prosthesis”. Put simply, during osseointegration an implant is attached directly to a patient’s bone and left to protrude through the skin. It offers a rapid connection between the prosthetic limb and the stump and also provides an element of stability for the patient’s long term prosthetic use. In my experience of discussing the issues with patients who have undergone osseointegration in the past they all report that it is a lifechanging experience.
By |2024-07-04T17:46:00+01:0016 November 2020|News, Legal|
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Using art to help manage the life long effects of a brain injury

Natalie Mackenzie, of BIS Services, has worked with 'James' since 2002. In fact, he was one of her earlier clients in her career. She is immensely proud of the challenges he has overcome; not all of the effects of the accident have been surmounted, but none the less he has exceeded many expectations of medical professionals, with a will of iron and an exceptional talent that is finally being acknowledged. Here she shares the experience.

James is not defined by his brain injury, but his experiences and the challenges of his TBI have moulded his work and the individual we now see. As we are all aware, living with a severe TBI is a lifelong journey, and I still support Jim in the community, and have continued to do so whilst he has travelled around the world, through the now ‘normal’ virtual rehabilitation.

I have watched his art bring meaning and focus to his daily life, encouraging a motivation and structure that is always needed for individuals like James managing their cognition. Although there remain issues with some areas of function, James has learnt, consolidated and implemented a toolbox of strategies that support him to pursue his passion and bring joy to others.

It has been a pleasure to work with someone as driven as James, and I have seen him take a turbulent journey through his recovery, which I am sure many professionals in the field can relate with.

By |2026-02-12T07:49:22+00:0012 November 2020|Community neuro rehab, BIS Services, Opinion, Insight, News|
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Hands on to hands off

Five brain injury professionals spanning dietetics, case management, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy share what they've learnt from to shift to virtual therapy. 

At the start of the pandemic, many statutory rehab services were redeployed, and some independent therapy teams closed or therapists moved back into frontline work within the NHS and community. A group of private therapists in the North West of England started keeping in touch on social media and in weekly group support sessions to share their fears and concerns, and identify the strengths that helped them survive in such challenging times.
By |2024-07-04T17:54:59+01:006 November 2020|Therapy, Opinion, Insight|
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The Liberty Protection Safeguards explained

By Saoirse de Bont

Introduction The Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) were introduced through the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019, which received royal assent on 16 May 2019. The purpose of the LPS are to replace the existing Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) regime, partly due to the substantial increase in cases which fell under the auspices of the DoLS following the Supreme Court case of Cheshire West, and partly due to criticisms of the DoLS regime, including the fact that there were many settings such as supported living placements and family homes, where people were being deprived of their liberty but the DoLS did not apply.
By |2024-07-04T17:46:03+01:006 November 2020|Legal|
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A week in the life of a cognitive rehab assistant

It’s early in the morning, I get ready, put the kettle on and…start brainstorming the plan of action for the day ahead! This routine will sound familiar to many rehabilitation assistants, as they prepare for a fulfilling and rewarding therapy session with clients.  Why is a structured routine so important in cognitive rehabilitation?

One of the main duties for a rehab assistant (RA) is to help people retrieve or maintain their independence skills by practising daily activities such as making a two-ingredient meal, doing the laundry or assist a client to wash up after having lunch. Another part of the RA role is to ensure clients are safe in their home environment. This is done by partaking in OT assessments and visiting clients’ homes to see how the settings can be adapted to help them feel secure (e.g. walk-in shower, hand rails, fire alarms etc).
By |2024-07-04T17:46:03+01:006 November 2020|News|
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Justice delayed is justice denied

At Irwin Mitchell, we represent individuals who have sustained life-changing injuries, writes David Withers. Some of our clients have severe brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and / or amputations arising from poly-trauma. For these individuals and their families, their lives are turned upside down. There is a range of emotions after such trauma. Without doubt, what those individuals and their families in this situation want is the possibility that, with effective rehabilitation, their quality of life can improve...

In the longer term, financial security is also a vital consideration, particularly if they are no longer able to work and have a family to support. As has been widely reported, the criminal courts are experiencing significant delays. There has been long-term under-funding. With the Covid-19 pandemic, these delays only worsened.
By |2024-07-04T17:46:05+01:0030 October 2020|News|
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Home at last for seriously injured individuals

When a seriously injured person is injured, there is often a need for larger accommodation. This may be required to accommodate carers, to create a therapy room or to house aids and equipment. Larger houses cost more money, writes Irwin Mitchell's David Withers.

The issue that the Court has, when faced with a claim for damages, is ensuring that the severely injured person’s accommodation needs are met, but also ensuring that the injured person’s estate, when the injured person dies, does not receive a windfall. A property is a capital asset which, based on historical performance, generally appreciates in value over a period of time. If the injured person was awarded the total cost of the property that they now need because of their injury, they would receive damages to purchase the property and their estate would then be able to sell the higher value and larger property upon the injured person’s death, hence the windfall argument.
By |2024-07-04T17:46:06+01:0029 October 2020|News, Legal|
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Living with chronic pain

Serious injury solicitor Alice Hall shares an insight from Lou, founder of Northamptonshire Chronic Pain Support.

Within my role as a serious injury solicitor, I often support clients who experience chronic pain after trauma and I have seen the devastating effect that can have on the life of a sufferer. I have also seen the importance of early and specialist professional input, and that, without this, the significant risk that people’s physical and mental health can quickly spiral downwards. But, what does it actually mean to live with chronic pain and what support is there available to sufferers? I spoke with Lou, the founder of Northamptonshire Chronic Pain Support (NCPS) and someone living with chronic pain.
By |2024-07-04T17:46:07+01:0026 October 2020|Uncategorised|
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‘Lockdown set me back so much, I fear the consequences of a second wave’

COVID-19 has presented many challenges for brain injury patients, with the cancellation of groups and appointments meaning a pause in their rehabilitation. Here, Paul shares his story of how his experience of the past few months has left him dreading the impending ‘second wave’.

I sustained a brain injury just over 18 months ago now. It was in circumstances many people describe as a ‘freak injury’ but I really hate that description, as I’m constantly well aware I probably now seem like a freak, thanks to my condition. I was decorating at home, something I never do, but we were trying to save some money so I thought I’d give it a go. I was standing on some ladders which were a bit wobbly, but they seemed fine for a DIY novice such as myself.
By |2024-07-04T17:54:59+01:0021 October 2020|Opinion, Insight, Patient stories|
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