Brain Injury Awareness 2012 - The ‘Hidden Disability’
You can’t always see what it’s like to live with a brain injury.
Each year over 2000 people in Northern Ireland sustain a brain injury. Brain injuries can be caused by a number of different reasons including falls, road traffic accidents and assault. This can have a life changing effect on the individual, their families and carers.
This week (14 - 20 May 2012), RABIIG, the Regional Acquired Brain Injury Implementation Group, will be promoting Brain Injury Awareness 2012 and its theme - The ‘Hidden Disability’.
RABIIG has been working since 2010 to improve brain injury services for users and carers. It is chaired by the Health and Social Care Board in conjunction with the Public Health Agency and has membership from statutory and voluntary organisations, users of services, parents and carers.
Health Minister, Edwin Poots said: “I am delighted to launch the events that RABIIG has organised to support Brain Injury Awareness Week. It is important to raise people’s awareness about the hidden symptoms and challenges that brain injury can bring such as memory loss, mobility problems and personality changes”.
This week will help to raise public awareness and provide training opportunities through a range of events delivered throughout the five Health and Social Care Trust areas. It will highlight the range of health and social care support available for individuals with brain injuries, their families and carers. A series of posters and leaflets on ‘The Hidden Disability’ has also been prepared by RABIIG to support the activities.
RABIIG has made excellent progress in improving brain injury services. Last year, a local guide was produced providing valuable information for users of services and their families. In addition, standards and care pathways were introduced to ensure that care is delivered to the same standard throughout Northern Ireland regardless of age or postcode.
For further information about Brain Injury Awareness 2012 or the work of RABIIG please get in touch with Bronagh Macauley, Service Improvement Project Manager, Tel: 028 9032 1313 or bronagh.macauley@hscni.net
Further information is also available on the Health and Social Care Board website; www.hscboard.hscni.net/RABIIG
For further information contact:
Nataleen Surgenor (nataleen.surgenor@hscni.net) or Elizabeth Owen (Elizabeth.owen@hscni.net) or Sally Kelly (sally.kelly@hscni.net) or Tel: (028) 2531 1015 or (028) 9055 3626.
Caption:
Pictured at the launch of Brain Injury Awareness 2012 are Kevin Keenan, Health and Social Care Board; Health Minister, Edwin Poots and Johny Turnbull, Headway UK along with HSC staff members including the PHA's Brendan Forde, Allied Health Professional Consultant.
- The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety’s Regional Review of Brain Injury Services in 2008 and the revised Action Plan provides clear time bounded targets for RABIIG to drive service improvement and to co-ordinate action in order to improve outcomes for patients, their families and carers.The Action Plan falls into four key themes: Service Redesign; Quality Improvement and Performance Management; Improved Support for Individuals; Carers and Families and Effective Engagement and Partnership Working.
- Each year in the UK around 150,000 people are admitted to emergency departments with a head injury. Men are two to three times more likely to have a traumatic brain injury. This increases to five times more likely in the 15-29 age range.
- A photograph is available to support this news release on Monday 14th May.
- The list of activities organised for this week is also available.