Launched to raise awareness of Acquired Brain Injury in Ireland
Wednesday 5th September 2007
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is a silent epidemic which affects more than 10,000 people in Ireland every year and its victims are often left without vital support services which would ensure that they could continue to live independent lives, the EO of the Peter Bradley Foundation said today.
"In Ireland we are only now beginning to understand acquired brain injury (ABI) and to recognise it as a distinct and unique disability. At the Peter Bradley Foundation we continue to find people with ABI wrongly placed in psychiatric hospitals and nursing homes because of a lack of understanding and because there are no adequate support services for those suffering with ABI. It is possible for people with an ABI to regain a measure of independent living if given the proper support services and the Peter Bradley Foundation has shown it can be done very successfully", said Barbara O'Connell. Barbara O'Connell was speaking at the launch of the Peter Bradley Foundation's 'Mind Your Head' awareness campaign which seeks to raise awareness of the serious consequences of not wearing protective headgear in various every day situations such as cycling, working or playing sports. The first stage of the campaign will focus on cyclists, from children to adults, and will highlight the widespread complacency that exists towards bicycle helmets.
Ms. O'Connell used the occasion to highlight the lack of funding for services saying that despite the Peter Bradley Foundation doubling in size since 2004 to meet the growing demand for services, the Foundation has had no increase in core funding since that time. "The problem is that the Department of Health does not recognise ABI as a distinct disability group. We need that recognition so that a national strategy for support services can be developed and separate funding provided through the HSE to facilitate the implementation of that strategy."
"The HSE has been supportive of our work but additional resources at local level and increased priority would greatly benefit the 10,000 people with ABI in Ireland. The lack of increased core funding is putting pressure on our ability to provide the services required by people with ABI across Ireland. We are continuing to open new residences and are currently planning to build two new houses in Clarecastle in Co. Clare, as well as piloting a service for children with ABI. Currently there are no services available for young people. But our ability to continue to expand our services is becoming extremely limited and we urgently need to secure additional core funds if we are to continue our work".
Dr Mark Delargy, Consultant in rehabilitation medicine in the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) said, "The provision of services for people with ABI also needs to be improved in the rehabilitation care setting. At the start of 2007 there were over 120 ABI patients on the waiting list for access to the NRH. Waiting times can be 3 to 6 months depending on the complexity of the injury and, for minimally conscious brain injury patients we are seeing waiting times of around 18 months for access to the NRH's high dependency unit during which time they must remain in acute hospitals." We need to increase the level of rehabilitation services available so as to allow quicker access for patients. We also need to see an increase in the number of consultants in rehabilitation medicine so that we can deliver these added services. The European average is 2.8 rehabilitation physicians per 100,000 people. In Ireland we have just 0.15 consultants per 100,000 people. Based on Dutch standards we should have 74 consultants, today we have just six in place", he said.
Supporting the Peter Bradley Foundation's Mind Your Head campaign Dr Delargy said; "There are various causes of brain injury, it can occur as a result of illness such as a viral infection or a stroke; a fall at work or at home, a road traffic accident or drug overdose. Brain injury affects individuals in different ways and can happen to anybody at anytime but they can often be prevented if, as the Peter Bradley Foundation correctly says we 'mind our heads' and wear proper protective head gear when engaging in activities such as cycling. Wearing a helmet is the most effective way of reducing head injuries during bicycle and motorbike collisions".
Sam Fleming from Galway was 20 years old when a cycling accident resulted in a brain injury, which left him severely disabled, unable to walk or live an independent life of his own. After eight months of hospital care Sam went home and the reality of the accident began to take its toll.
Speaking at the event Sam's mother Pam said, "For 6 years we desperately tried to find help and support. Life became a constant battle for both Sam and myself. Sam was young, he wanted to return to being one of the lads but it was impossible for him. We struggled to cope with the 'new' Sam. His brain injury had not only disabled him but had also affected his personality - his changed behaviour often led to very difficult situations. Not knowing what to do left us all frustrated and tired."
Help and understanding were not there. If we collapsed, Sam would have ended up in a nursing home, left without rehabilitation services in an environment unsuited for someone so young, totally dependent on others for everything. Sam would have deteriorated so fast it would have broken my heart and his."
Thankfully, Sam now lives in a Peter Bradley Foundation house. He is being encouraged and supported to develop as much independence as he can. He is not having to fit into a pre-existing service or routine, he has choices. Both our lives are changing for the better, and his brothers no longer have to worry."
Sam is just one our clients whose life was changed forever simply by not wearing a helmet when he was out cycling. He is not alone. Over 400 children on bikes were injured on Irish roads between 1998 and 2005, this is a very high casualty rate and reinforces the need for parents to insist that their children wear a helmet when cycling", said Barbara O'Connell. "Wearing a helmet is not only a preventative measure in terms of head injuries, it can also reduce time spent recovering in hospital and the duration spent in rehabilitation. It's particularly important for young children as severe brain injuries can have a huge effect on their emotional development and maturity. The World Health Organization estimates that the chances of serious head trauma and lifelong disabilities can be reduced by an incredible 69% when a helmet is worn during a collision. We remind everyone using a bicycle to Mind Your Head and wear a helmet!"
Ends.
2009 - Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (formerly the Peter Bradley Foundation) specialises in providing assisted living and community rehabilitation services to people with an ABI. It was founded in 2000 by the family of Peter Bradley who suffered not one, but two brain injuries. In 2000 it became clear that Peter was unable to live alone and the only option open to the family was to place him in a nursing home. Instead the Peter Bradley Foundation was born to provide assisted living services to enable people with an ABI to continue to live in their communities.
The incidence of acquired brain injury as a result of an accident, illness or injury is increasing every year. The effects of such injuries are irreversible and can dramatically alter a survivor's life. Speech, language and memory can be affected, behavioural problems can result and other cognisance skills can be impacted. Many will never work again, and someone with ABI can also find it difficult to interact socially with others, even members of their own family. The absence of physical symptoms makes it very difficult to understand for many loved ones.
People with ABI progress at different rates, and may need to access services at different points in time as their needs change. Within each stage of rehabilitation a range of different service providers is involved, which must be co-ordinated. Once back in the community the emphasis is on more extended activities of daily living, integration, and return to work or education. Interventions focus on enhanced participation, improved quality of life, psychological adjustment and carer stress. Acquired Brain Injury Ireland is filling a vital service gap, in partnership with statutory bodies.
The services provided by the organisation place a critical emphasis on client centeredness, quality, effectiveness and value for money. Rehabilitation and clinical support are key aspects to the service.
Acquired Brain Injury Ireland was founded on the belief that with the correct supports and appropriate environment, people of all ages with Acquired Brain Injury can live a full life, by maximising ability.