The majority of case managers are unconvinced that the Government’s new ABI Strategy will lead to a step change in the care and support available to people living with brain injury, a new survey has revealed.
Research by Nockolds Solicitors and NR Times has already revealed that the majority of case managers believe the strategy will be delayed as a result of recent political turmoil.
In the current issue of NR Times, Chris Bryant MP – co-chair of the ABI Strategy, whose work was central to the Government granting the go-ahead for its creation – also spoke of his fears that this could lead to delay.
Now, in the latest round of findings, 57 per cent of case managers have said they are not confident the strategy itself will be a success.
Furthermore, 62 per cent believe the ABI strategy should address the time it takes to secure funding from insurers for rehabilitation.
“The Government’s ABI strategy marks a huge step forward, following years of campaigning from charities and brain injury survivors for more support,” said Jennie Jones, head of the medical negligence and personal injury team at Nockolds Solicitors.
“However, from our research, it is clear that the majority of case managers are unconvinced that the new strategy will lead to a step change in the care and support available to people living with ABI.
“At Nockolds, we remain cautiously optimistic. There are over a million people in the UK who are affected by ABI and this strategy is desperately needed.”
On the point of securing funding, Jennie said: “Funding remains the biggest hurdle when it comes to ABI rehabilitation.
“Interim payments are a lot easier to secure if there is a collaborative approach between claimants and defendants.
“Our experience, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic – when the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL) agreed a new set of standard practices – is that, in general, both sides are adopting a collaborative approach. An early dialogue is always the best way forward.
“One area where cooperation needs to improve is brain injury clinical negligence claims. Our experience in this area is that NHS Resolution still adopts a combative approach.”
Deborah Johnson, editor of NR Times, added: “The insight of case managers is absolutely invaluable to learning the true picture around provision for brain injury survivors – they see the reality first-hand every day, and their findings must be listened to and acted upon if the ABI Strategy is to have the positive impact it promises to deliver.”
Nockolds Solicitors has also announced plans to launch a quarterly forum for brain injury case managers, providing complementary training and market insight. Further details will be released shortly.
