Headway urges government to back brain injury services amid closures and tough conditions

Brain injury body Headway has urged the UK government to provide additional funds and fresh support for the ABI strategy ahead of its autumn Budget; amid challenging conditions for both charities and families seeking to access stretched services.

Headway has written an open letter to the Chancellor calling for more budgeting for brain injury, as well as a commitment to the development and funding of the ABI strategy.

The landmark ABI strategy aimed at transforming survivors’ experience of brain injury care was given the go-ahead by the Government in December 2021. The much-anticipated project remains in the works, however.

As part of Headway’s Budget for Brain Injury campaign it warns that the government “must address the urgent challenges facing community-based rehabilitation organisations providing essential services to individuals living with acquired brain injury”.

“They are essential partners for the government in delivering vital services for survivors and their families, but support must be forthcoming without further delay,” it adds.

And, in an open letter to the government, Headway chief executive Luke Griggs underlines the tough financial climate for brain injury charities. He confirms that four local Headway charities have closed since spring this year – and a further three will close in the coming few months. He writes:

Over the course of this parliament around 1.8 million people will be admitted to hospital with an acquired brain injury (ABI).

Luke Griggs, Headway

As well as the often-devastating impact to the individual and those close to them, brain injury creates a huge burden on the UK economy with an estimated £15 billion spent each year across multiple government departments.

In December 2022, the previous government committed to the development of a pan-departmental ABI strategy. Headway joined brain injury survivors, carers and families in welcoming this progressive move to finally ensure brain injury is given the same attention as other conditions.

At Headway, we urge the new government to commit to both the development of an ABI strategy, and to the provision of additional funding to support its implementation.

It is evident that effective interventions as early as possible after brain injury improve the rehabilitation and recovery chances of individuals.

Providing services at this early stage also prevents individuals from requiring more costly state-funded services in the long term. Without additional funds, the strategy will struggle to yield transformative outcomes for those dealing with the aftermath of brain injuries.

I wrote to the previous Chancellor in spring 2024, explaining that local Headway charities, which provide specialist rehabilitation and reablement services for people living with the effects of brain injury, were facing financial crises.

I warned that without intervention, some local Headway charities would not survive. Since then, the situation has deteriorated; four local Headway charities, all in different areas of the UK, have had to close their doors, and three more will do so in the next few months. Even more are at breaking point.

These charities support thousands of families affected by brain injury, and the effects of these closures are devastating, both for brain injury survivors and their loved ones. Furthermore, the financial implications on local authorities are significant. For many brain injury survivors, the services provided by their local Headway charity are critical to them continuing to live independently.

For families, the respite and support they receive can be the difference between a family staying together or a loved one requiring specialist residential living – at a huge cost to the public purse. We are asking you to use your position as Chancellor to ensure that people living with acquired brain injury receive the services they desperately need.

 We passionately believe that an ABI strategy that covers all areas of government can significantly improve the lives of people living with brain injury in the UK, while reducing the financial burden on local authorities by increasing survivors’ ability to lead independent lives.

But this can only happen if the government makes more budget provision for brain injury and backs up its words with positive action.

Please support brain injury survivors and their families by allocating additional funds for those with brain injury in the upcoming Budget on 30th October.

Follow NR Times on autumn Budget day to find out if any brain injury-relevant announcements are made.