Brain injury events
Brain injury conference 2013
During Action for Brain Injury Awareness Week, Hugh James hosted
yet another successful brain injury conference in which over 70
specialist brain injury clinicians, case managers, support workers,
social workers and physiotherapists attended at the Cardiff City
Football Stadium for a day of informative talks from some very
eminent speakers within the world of brain injury
rehabilitation.
The speakers included Dr Jonathan Bird (neuropsychiatrist), Mr
John Martin (neurosurgeon), Dr Ivan Pitman (neuropsychologist),
Rhiannon Stokes (occupational therapist), Vicky Richards (case
manager and coordinator of the CBIT team in Cardiff & The Vale
NHS University Health Board), Malcolm Stephens (consultant
solicitor specialising in family law at Hugh James), Dr Gwen
Phillips (neuropsychologist at Whitchurch Hospital) and Jo Pickford
(social worker at Whitchurch Hospital).
Speaking about vulnerability and causation of head injuries,
delegates commented that Dr Jonathan Bird produced a “thought
provoking, interesting and well presented talk”.
Mr John Martin provided an update regarding techniques and
clinical issues; delegates commented that he was “easy to listen
to, entertaining and provided interesting slides with great
content”.
Dr Ivan Pitman of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust provided
an overview regarding rehab in a BIRT setting.
Rhiannon Stokes provided a passionate talk with some excellent
photographic images regarding sensory equipment and how it can
assist individuals suffering from brain injury.
Vicky Richards spoke about managing challenging behaviour in the
community and provided good examples regarding working as a team to
assist individuals with brain injury.
Malcolm Stephens spoke about relationship breakdown after TBI
and provided helpful content regarding pre nuptial agreements and
division of assets following marriage.
Dr Gwen Phillips and Jo Pickford concluded the day by discussing
‘planning for a successful discharge – a patient’s story’ which
provided powerful video footage of a difficult discharge and how it
had resulted in an individual with severe traumatic brain injury
achieving a good standard of independent living.
The day was chaired by Andrew Harding, Partner and head of the
Neurolaw team at Hugh James.
The next Hugh James brain injury conference will take place next
year. The date is to be confirmed but it is likely that it will
take place during Action for Brain Injury Awareness Week in May
2014.
If you wish to obtain further information, please contact James
Williamson on 029 20 391035 or email james.williamson@hughjames.com.
Action for Brain Injury Week 2013
Headway UK's 'Action for Brain
Injury Week 2013' is taking place from 13 - 19 May 2013. The
campaign is targeted at GPs rather than the general public,
and is designed to spread the word about the charity's new bespoke
online resource to help GPs diagnose and refer patients affected by
brain injury.
About the campaign
With brain injury often referred to
as the hidden disability, leading to difficulties in diagnosis and
management, many people affected report to us that they have had
difficulty in accessing appropriate care and support, despite
presenting their problems to their GP. Equally, however, Headway
know that many GPs provide first-rate care to those presenting
symptoms of brain injury.
The aim of this campaign is to develop stronger working
relationships with GPs and new commissioning groups. By providing
information and resources, as well as highlighting good practice,
Headway UK want to help GPs better identify patients who may be
affected by brain injury and ensure they are subsequently referred
to appropriate services.
They plan to highlight best practice by creating GP Champions
across the UK. In doing so, and by providing resources and
information to assist GPs, they hope to improve the standard of
care being provided by doctors across the UK.
Online resource
Headway UK have created a bespoke online resource for GPs
(www.headway.org.uk/gp.aspx).
This website (which launches on 13 May) will contain useful
information, factsheets and referral guides for GPs. It will also
include a list of GPs who have signed a simple pledge acknowledging
the often hidden effects of brain injury. GPs signing this pledge
will become Headway GP Champions, with their names added to a list
on the site.
Items on the website will include:
- Minor brain injury: a guide for GPs (factsheet)
- Minor brain injury: a guide for GPs (leaflet)
- Management of acquired brain injury: a guide for GPs
(factsheet)
- Campaign flyer
- List of GP Champions
- Additional links, information and tools to assist GPs
- Contact details for all local Headway groups and branches
- Assessment tools
- Guidelines
The campaign will be an ongoing project that we hope will go
from strength to strength. The resource will remain on the site in
the long-term with the potential for further development in the
future. Headway hope that it will be helpful and informative for
GPs and help them to efficiently identify and manage the problems
of brain injured patients.
Headway UK will also be adding to the website positive and
negative experiences of working with GPs – both from individuals’
perspectives and those of Groups and Branches.
More information on the campaign is available on the official
website.
Training sessions
The Hugh James brain and spinal
injury specialist lawyers recently provided a training session to
15 case managers of a national case management company which
focused on the litigation process and the Rehabilitation Code of
Best Practice. The day was thoroughly enjoyed by all who
attended:
"Thank you for putting on such
an excellent day's training. It was extremely well received and we
are very grateful."
"It was a really interesting
and informative day"
"You answered all our questions
in an easy to understand manner"
"Training was set to meet case
managers needs"
"Really pulled together the
relationship between solicitors and case managers"
"Friendly and approachable
trainers"
If you would like more information
on our brain and spinal injury specialist lawyers providing a
training session for you please contact Kate Coles.
Free training for family and friends of brain injured
individuals
Hugh James has teamed up
with specialists from Positive Neuro Rehab to provide FREE training
for relatives and the friends of those with a brain injury.
We invite you to attend a three session programme designed to
share information about the common consequences of a brain injury,
provide practical advice on coping strategies and perhaps most
importantly allow people to share similar experiences.
Sessions will take place
at the Maldron Hotel, St Mary Street, Cardiff as
follows.
Day 1 - 26 January
2013, 13.30 - 16.30
Session 1:
Effect of Brain Injury on Relatives/Carers: brief review and a
personal story
Session 2:
Changes in thinking skills and practical coping strategies
Day 2 - 09 February
2013, 13.30 - 16.30
Session 1:
Emotion and behaviour after brain injury and some strategies
Day 3 - 23 February
2013, 13.30 - 16.30
Session 1:
Resilience, coping and living well
The sessions will be
informal and allow plenty of time to share experiences over some
coffee and biscuits. We hope that those attending come away with
some positive ideas about the future.
Email James
Williamson or telephone 02920 391035
Brain injury conference 2012
The 2012 brain injury conference
took place on 12 June at the Twenty Ten Clubhouse, The Celtic Manor
Resort, Newport. The conference was attended by professionals
working with individuals with brain injuries and their families,
including service providers, clinicians, social workers,
occupational therapists and physiotherapists. The day was extremely
successful, with all who attended praising the depth of content and
quality of speakers.
Brain injury conference 2011
This year’s Hugh James brain injury
conference took place on 12th May at the Village Hotel, Cardiff,
and was a great success with thought provoking and lively debate on
the day.
Over 60 delegates attended the
event, including case managers, social workers, ward managers,
occupational therapists and neuropsychaitrists.
Andrew Harding, partner at Hugh
James and head of the neurolaw team welcomed delegates and
introduced the first speaker, Dr Nigel Walton. Dr Walton gave his
views on mild traumatic brain injury, sparking some debate and
interesting discussion among delegates.
Dr David J McGonigle from Cardiff
University gave the next presentation on the use of non-invasive
neuroimaging for brain injured patients and some of the questions
this can raise. Nicholas David Jones is a practicing barrister at
Civitas Law in Cardiff then gave the audience some excellent,
current knowledge of capacity issues.
The afternoon session kicked off
with a presentation from Jane Jackson, a case manager from
Independent Case Management. Jane gave some great insight into
crime, alcohol and drugs in relation to individuals diagnosed with
brain injury and some excellent examples from her work in the
field.
Dr Jonathan Bird from Frenchay
Hospital in Bristol gave the next presentation, looking at issues
relating to capacity but this time from a medical perspective. This
talk also sparked some debate with the audience with some
interesting discussion around the issues raised.
Another popular presentation came
from Dr Claire Willson, a clinical psychologist at the Community
Brain Injury Team in Cardiff. Dr Willson talked about sexuality and
relationships after brain injury, a topic not often discussed and
therefore something that delegates were interested in learning more
about.
The final presentation of the day
came from Lee Ryan, a welfare benefits advisor from Frenkel
Topping. Lee talked about the benefits that individuals are
entitled to, how to advise them on claiming these and also changes
that were likely to happen to the system in future.
Overall, delegates thought this
year’s conference was:
“Really good, very welcoming
atmosphere, good content and very worthwhile”
“Well organised and very
informative. It is difficult to find the right level at which to
pitch a conference due to the wide range of disciplines but I feel
this achieved the right level for me as a nurse and case
manager”
“A worthwhile event which I
thoroughly enjoyed attending”
“An enjoyable day, would
recommend”
“High standard with all speakers
and a good mix of topics”
Brain injury conference 2010
Hugh James’ annual brain injury
conference at The Village Hotel, Cardiff on 6th May 2010 was a
great success with over 70 delegates attending.
The day commenced with Mr Robert
Redfern, Consultant Neurosurgeon at Morriston Hospital, discussing
assessment of brain injury. Ronel Treblanche and Julie Swinbourn
Headley Court DMRC provided a fascinating insight into the injuries
sustained by individuals in the Armed Forces and the way in which
such injuries are managed.
Presentations by case managers,
Headway and BIRT were well received. Dr Seth Mensah of the Welsh
Neuropsychiatry Service discussed the long term impact of acquired
brain injury and Nicholas David Jones of Civitas Law ended the day
with an update on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 which focused upon
deprivation of liberties.
“A well organised event. All
the speakers were clear and the handouts were very
helpful.”
“ A good range of specialist
information regarding acquired brain injury.”
“ A really good day.
Interesting topics. I gained knowledge and insight into some areas
unfamiliar to me previously.”
“ I have attended before. The
talks are always very interesting and informative.”
“ Well organised- many
perspectives together to provide comprehensive overview/useful
information on brain injury.”