Patient stories
Alan*, 52, has regained strength, mobility and function in his left shoulder, arm and hand 34 years after experiencing partial paralysis following a spinal cord injury as a teenager. He achieved these gains by completing a groundbreaking eight-week programme combining ONWARD Medical’s newly-approved ARCEX spinal stimulation system with the Neurokinex Activity Based Rehabilitation protocol. One [...]
A service user at Cygnet Alders is making a powerful difference to others by bravely sharing her lived experience and leading a psychology group for both staff and patients to raise awareness of head banging and how it can be reduced. Charley, who has been at the Gloucester-based Cygnet Health Care hospital on Podsmead Road [...]
The COMET newborn brain injury trial has recruited its 100th baby, marking a milestone for one of the world’s largest neonatal neuroprotection studies. The study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and led by researchers at Imperial College London, is testing whether babies born with mild hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy benefit from therapeutic [...]
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 brain injury survivor and NR Times award-winner who has raised more than £100,000 for charity has received a British Empire Medal. Dominic Hurley, 52, was told he may never walk or talk again after falling off a moped in Cyprus in 1994, but went on to defy doctors' expectations. Since then, he has raised [...]
A woman with multiple sclerosis (MS) is swimming 24 miles to raise money for the therapy centre that has supported her for the last 15 years. Jayne Charles from Bilston will be taking on the challenge over 40 swims to fundraise for the Wolverhampton MS Therapy Centre, which marks its 40th anniversary this year. The [...]
A British baby has become the first to be recruited to a global study of brain injury in newborns. The research at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Kent aims to improve outcomes for infants with brain injuries at birth, says Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW). The study, COMET (Cooling in Mild Encephalopathy Trial), examines [...]
A nine-year-old brain injury survivor has won a courage award after emergency surgery and five months in hospital following a catastrophic brain injury. Mathilda Wells received the honour at the Warrington Guardian Inspiration Awards 2026, held at The Village Hotel on April 23. Her family's lives changed in October 2024 when a ruptured AVM caused [...]
Cygnet's Ranaich House has been praised for delivering “excellent” outcomes and creating an “uplifting and positive” atmosphere following an inspection from Care Inspectorate Scotland. The specialist social care service achieved top marks of ‘6 – Excellent’ for how well people’s wellbeing is supported and how care is planned, together with ‘5 – Very Good’ for [...]
A runner with multiple sclerosis has broken the half marathon record for a person with the condition after finishing in 1:30:46. Chris White, 42, from Luton in Bedfordshire, beat the previous Guinness World Record of 1:33:08 at the Brighton Half Marathon on 1 March, despite being told to avoid intense exercise after his diagnosis. White [...]
