Life after injury
When Barry first moved into Albert Road, National Care Group’s specialist neurological service in Levenshulme, Greater Manchester, he was coming from a difficult period in his life. Following a stroke that resulted in a brain injury and left him with communication difficulties, Barry spent a long time in hospital before being placed in an elderly [...]
By Paula Hansen, managing director, World Accessible Holidays Earlier this year in NR Times I argued that accessible travel for clients with complex needs should be planned like rehabilitation, not retail. The response from readers in case management, occupational therapy and rehabilitation told me the argument had landed. It also told me something I already [...]
When Andrea moved into National Care Group’s Ashbrook Neuro Rehabilitation following a long hospital stay, her ultimate goal was to live independently again with her dog. At 55, Andrea was found unresponsive with a significant brain bleed. This resulted in a brain injury that left her with left-sided weakness, mobility challenges and difficulties with memory [...]
The slow-stream rehabilitation Nathan received at National Care Group’s Ashbrook Neuro Rehabilitation in Rochdale after a motorcycle accident empowered his determination to achieve greater independence, rebuild lost skills, and get back to doing the things he loves. The person-centred progression model of support that Nathan received enabled him to achieve positive recovery outcomes, leading to [...]
A case study by Katie Turner, Unite Professionals Case Management The client was involved in a road traffic collision (RTC) whilst he was on his motorcycle vs motorcar. He sustained multiple complex fractures, the most significant being to his right femoral shaft and right femoral neck. These injuries resulted in him having an external fixator. [...]
By Paula Hansen, managing director, World Accessible Holidays In clinical negligence and catastrophic injury claims, future needs must be costed carefully and realistically. Accommodation, therapies, equipment and care are typically supported by expert evidence so that the figures presented are both justified and practical. Holiday costs should be approached in the same way. Too often, [...]
By Circle Rehabilitation When Matthew suffered a sudden stroke on 22 October 2025, his life changed overnight. One day he was active—working full-time, walking his dog twice daily, and playing golf—and the next he was in a hospital bed, unable to use his leg or arm and struggling to speak. His stroke came without warning [...]
By Paula Hansen, managing director, World Accessible Holidays For many neuro rehab clients, travel is not a luxury add on. It is part of rebuilding confidence, independence and quality of life. Yet travel is still frequently treated as a retail transaction rather than a continuation of rehabilitation planning, with accessibility confirmed late or assumed rather [...]
By Paula Hansen, World Accessible Holidays Fibromyalgia is one of those conditions that can be hard to explain until you live it. From the outside I might look fine, but inside my body can feel like its been hit all over with a baseball bat. Pain can be constant or it can spike without warning, [...]
A businesswoman, who describes herself as a ‘bedpreneur’ due to a debilitating medical condition, has opened up the world of travel to disabled holidaymakers on a budget with the UK’s first one-stop website providing accessible and affordable holidays. Experienced traveller Paula Hansen, 52, established World Accessible Holidays after spotting a gap in the market to [...]
