Before the Covid-19 pandemic, people from all sectors and political backgrounds accepted that the current health and social care system wasn’t fit for purpose, nor was it sustainable. It’s an organisationally, culturally and financially fragmented system at odds with itself. It lacks whole system integration, and is often frustrating for people with neurological conditions and their families as they navigate their new lives after hospital. It’s a challenging and conflicted maze for neuro-rehab professionals and providers delivering the best possible services and outcomes for patients and their service commissioners.

The current pandemic has generated varying levels of anxiety in people around becoming infected or infecting others. In extreme cases, this anxiety can be debilitating. Overwhelming anxiety can lead to withdrawal from others, and in brain injury work settings, can cause staff members to refuse certain duties that make them feel unsafe, which can cause conflict with managers. Feeling a loss of control can be difficult for some, whether that’s at work or at home, and this can be exacerbated by restrictions designed to minimise infection risk. Changes in the workplace include virtual meetings, wearing PPE for client or patient encounters and working remotely.