A step toward change: APPG on Spinal Cord Injury calls for national strategy

Last week I attended the launch of a new report by MPs calling for a national strategy to improve care and support for people with spinal cord injuries.

The report – From Fragmented to Coordinated: Building a National Spinal Cord Injury Strategy – was compiled by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Spinal Cord Injury, following an extensive inquiry into life with these injuries.

Bolt Burdon Kemp was proud to contribute evidence and share our clients’ experiences as part of this important work that also brought together people living with spinal cord injuries, healthcare professionals, charities and policymakers.

The central recommendation in the report is the creation of a National Spinal Cord Injury Strategy. The aim is to end regional inequalities in care and ensure that everyone, wherever they live, has access to the same high standard of treatment, rehabilitation and long-term support.

What the report highlights

The APPG report looks at every stage of life after spinal cord injury, from emergency response to community support. It sets out priorities for the next 10 years, focusing on:

• Consistent pathways into specialist care and rehabilitation
• Investment in training and retaining a skilled spinal injury workforce
• Better coordination between health, social care, housing and employment services
• Stronger community-based support and access to essential equipment
• Improved data collection and research to guide policy and measure outcomes

While the UK has a proud history of excellence in spinal cord injury rehabilitation, the report makes clear that access to care and support remains inconsistent. A coordinated national approach is needed to deliver fairness and stability for everyone affected by spinal cord injury.

Connecting with our work at BBK

The findings of the report strongly align with the priorities set out in our Manifesto for Injured People. Through our work with clients, we see every day how gaps in coordination can have real and lasting consequences. Many of our clients face delays in receiving essential mobility equipment or experience barriers to accessing the right rehabilitation or diagnostic services.

We have long appealed for action to address these inequalities. The report’s call for a National Spinal Cord Injury Strategy reflects the same principles we advocate for: consistent access to care, fair provision of equipment, and timely support at every stage of recovery and beyond.

At BBK, we will continue to use our experience and evidence to support the implementation of the report’s recommendations. By sharing our clients’ stories and collaborating with others across the sector, we aim to ensure that policy decisions are grounded in lived experience and lead to meaningful improvements in care.

Looking ahead

The publication of this report is an important step toward creating a more joined-up system of care. A national strategy could transform how services are delivered and ensure that people with spinal cord injuries receive the support they deserve throughout their lives.

We are encouraged by the momentum created by this report and will continue to advocate for the changes needed to make its vision a reality.