BBK Manifesto: Create more spinal injury rehabilitation centres

BBK is calling for more specialised spinal injury rehabilitation centres across England and Wales to prevent families travelling up to 10 hours a day for treatment.

Access to early rehabilitation can have a significant impact on the outcome of someone with a spinal cord injury.

But access to a spinal injury rehabilitation centre is not guaranteed.

For example, we are aware those with cauda equina syndrome (CES) are often discharged home following surgery without referral to a rehabilitation centre meaning they are left to rely on their GPs and local district services for support.

In 2023 we conducted a survey of patients with CES which showed that of patients who are not treated in specialised spinal cord injury centres, 65% feel their GPs do not understand or are not supportive of their condition. This must improve.

For some, even when referrals are made, they are forced to travel significant distances to attend these centres. This is particularly true for children for whom the only dedicated paediatric spinal injury rehabilitation centre is based at the National Spinal Injury Centre at Stoke Mandeville in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

We are aware of families travelling in excess of five hours each way in order to attend outpatient appointments. This negatively impacts families who must travel significant distances to ensure their child receives specialist care.

The current system is inadequate and must change.

This blog is part of our #ChampioningChange Campaign, specifically, Bolt Burdon Kemp LLP’s 2024 Manifesto for Injured People. In this campaign we call for politicians and candidates to prioritise injured people as they go into the 2024 General Election. This work is informed by our clients’ experiences and our partnerships with charities which support our clients and others like them. If you would like to read more about our full manifesto you can do so here.