Rehab for all

People living with a brain injury or neurological condition should have more access to employment than ever before. But experts in the field paint a very different picture; in which individuals are struggling to find employment, withdrawing from work all together and experiencing discrimination. In July 2019, the Neurological Alliance published the most comprehensive survey undertaken of people living with neurological conditions. It found that one in three respondents have been discriminated against as a result of their condition, and almost a third (29 per cent) have had their contract of employment terminated.

At a Parliamentary debate held on Tuesday 2 July, MPs urged the government to issue a national review into neuro-rehab resources throughout the UK.  The debate was led by Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda and chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Acquired Brain Injury. According to the National Clinical Audit carried out by the group, 94 per cent of people who received neuro-rehab were able to live independent lives, yet only 40 per cent of those assessed at a major trauma unit as needing neuro-rehab had access to it, with an estimated shortage of 330 beds across England and Wales.