The Acquired Brain Injury Bill

By Sarah Griggs a specialist brain injuries lawyer at Irwin Mitchell

Care following brain injury

More than 1.3 million people in the UK are affected by brain injury and this costs £15 billion to the UK economy each year. 

There is currently no official plan in place for their care. Every brain injury is unique and in my experience requires a bespoke and specialist rehabilitation approach. Sadly, this is often lacking and I often think about those people who remain without support and with their potential untapped. 

Many of my clients require specialist accommodation, support workers and carers and have very specialist therapy needs. All of this is needed to enable those with an acquired brain injury (ABI) to live the best possible life.

The ABI bill

As a specialist brain injury practitioner and Trustee for Headway East London I’ve been delighted to support The Acquired Brain Injury Bill, or ‘ABI Bill’ that was due to receive it’s second reading in the House of Commons on 3 December. The reason that the Bill has been drafted is to ask the Government to provide a better strategy for the unmet needs of people living with an ABI.

Chris Bryant, the MP for Rhondda and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Acquired Brain Injury, is the sponsor of the Acquired Brain Injury Private Members’ Bill.

The Bill is calling for a comprehensive strategy to be implemented in order to meet the needs of adults and children with an acquired brain injury. This strategy aims to improve the provision of services by local authorities, NHS, Department for Education, Ministry of Defence, Prison Service, Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Support for the Bill

A coalition of organisations are working together to support the bill and representatives from Headway the Child Brain Injury Trust, The Children’s Trust, The Disabilities Trust  and UKABIF delivered a letter to the Prime Minister in support of the Bill on 15 November, 2021.

On 2 December the Government confirmed that it is committed to supporting all people living with an acquire brain injury and recognised the strength and support for a more collaborative and cross-departmental approach to ensure that people with an ABI will receive the support they need from statutory services. 

The Government announced that it will draft a strategy on acquired brain injury and set up an ABI programme board chaired by Gillian Keegan and Chris Bryant.

Our specialist brain injury team at Irwin Mitchell supports hundreds of brain injury survivors every year and having a single strategy really will help the lives of those affected by ABI. 

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in supporting people with brain injuries and their families at our dedicated brain injuries section.

Every brain injury is unique and in my experience requires a bespoke and specialist rehabilitation approach. Sadly, this is often lacking and I often think about those people who remain without support and with their potential untapped”