ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY MANIFESTO

Transcription

1 ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY MANIFESTO

2 Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (ABI Ireland) is calling on the Government to introduce a dedicated programme of investment for people with acquired brain injury over the next three years ( ) to implement current government policy on neuro-rehabilitation 1. This investment would recognise people with acquired brain injury (ABI) as a distinct group of survivors and the largest cohort using neuro-rehabilitation services. The programme of investment must have a number of key elements: 1. Develop ABI rehabilitation services in the community to enable timely post-acute discharge with a transition period of intensive rehabilitation 2. Develop longer-term ABI community based supports that enable people to live meaningful lives in the community 3. Support the acute hospitals with early rehabilitation assessment and reduce the significant waiting times to access specialist post-acute neuro-rehabilitation services by developing appropriate community responses and regional in-patient rehab units 1 Department of Health and HSE (2011) National Policy and Strategy for the Provision of Neuro-rehabilitation Services in Ireland

3 More and more people are surviving brain injury because of advances in medicine and technology. Due to the lack of neuro-rehabilitation and ABI services, survivors are often left to exist. So the challenge is to now find ways to support survivors to live well. In Ireland, it is estimated that approximately 10,000-13,000 people a year survive and live with a brain injury 2. People with ABI are the largest users of neuro-rehabilitation services in Ireland. The reality is that there are limited ABI services in all settings (acute, post acute and community). Where services exist they are patchy; they are underdeveloped and under-resourced. The current Department of Health/HSE policy National Policy and Strategy for the Provision of Neuro-rehabilitation Services in Ireland has not been implemented. Neurorehabilitation 3 enables people with a brain injury to recover, re-learn skills to achieve their potential and lead self-determined lives. Neuro-rehabilitation combines specialised clinical and social care supports based on an agreed pathway of care. It is personalised, individualised and evidenced based. Following a brain injury, rehabilitation should be available as a basic right, not on a postcode lottery. 2 ABI Ireland and The Brain Injury Association of America (2012) The Essential Brain Injury Guide. 3 The World Health Organisation defines neuro-rehabilitation as a problem-solving process in which the person who experiences a neurological impairment or loss of function acquires the knowledge, skills and supports needed for their optimal physical, psychological, social and economic functioning.

4 Write or your local politicians (sample letter on our website) or visit them in their constituency office, send/bring along the ABI Manifesto Promote the ABI campaign on social media Tell your own ABI story to your elected representatives Share your ABI story with us; Sign up to the supporters network online at Lobby the key decision makers in Government to make a commitment to include a dedicated ABI programme of investment in the Programme for Government and the HSE Service Plan Bring the ABI Manifesto to the attention of the Minister for Health and the relevant committees in the Houses of the Oireachtas to generate awareness and increase knowledge about the issue Tell colleagues in your political party about ABI and include a reference to ABI in your party s literature and links on your website/social media Raise a parliamentary question on ABI in Dáil Eireann/have a debate in the Seanad/address it at local council meetings Sign up to the supporters network online at

5 When a person acquires a brain injury, as a result of a fall, assault, accident, stroke or tumour, then they will need to re-learn the skills of life again. Depending on what part of the brain is injured and the extent of the injury, the person will have to live with different consequences, many hidden, others not and may range from physical, sensory, cognitive, psychological and emotional. There is limited recognition of people with ABI as a distinctive group with unique rehabilitation requirements within current health policy. As a result of the lack of policy attention and focus, too many people with an ABI live in highly inappropriate settings such as nursing homes for older people, community hospitals and acute hospitals. In the absence of ABI services in the community, families struggle to cope. This situation is further compounded if the person with the ABI is under 18 years as services for young people with an ABI are almost non-existent. Having a serious brain injury is totally life altering for both the person and their family. It has significant social and economic consequences for the individual, the family and society as a whole. However, life following a brain injury can be made so much better if the person has access to the range of services that they need in a timely fashion. Investing in and developing community based ABI-specific neuro-rehabilitation is the solution. Our solution is based on examining the international evidence and best practice. It is also reflective of 14 years of experience of delivering community based services to people with ABI across Ireland and our consultation process with hundreds of people with ABI, their families, clinicians, our staff and supporters.

6 ABI Ireland is Ireland s leading provider of flexible and tailor-made services for people with an ABI in the community. Our mission is to enable people with neuro-rehabilitation needs to lead meaningful lives in the community by providing personalised quality rehabilitation and support. We also educate and support families, provide information and engage in a range of awareness raising activities. We advocate for change seeking improved support services for those with an ABI and their families. NATIONAL OFFICE Acquired Brain Injury Ireland 43 Northumberland Avenue Dun Laoghaire Co. Dublin Tel: info@abiireland.ie Web: Follow REGIONAL OFFICES East/North East Northumberland Hall 13 Northumberland Avenue Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin Tel: South/Mid West 29 Cahereens West Castleisland, Co. Kerry Tel: Midlands/South East Our Lady's Hospital Campus Cashel, Co. Tipperary Tel: West/North West Calbro House, Tuam Road Galway Tel: Charity Number: CHY A Limited Company Reg: Acquired Brain Injury Ireland is the trading name of the Peter Bradley Foundation.