Headway Suffolk

Ipswich Hub 01473 712225

Bury Hub 01284 702535

ABI Suffolk hospital admission stats released

Nine people every day are being admitted to hospital in Suffolk with an acquired brain injury, new hospital admission statistics from Headway reveals.

Data shows that 3,283 people were admitted to hospital in Suffolk in 2019-20, with males accounting for 51.42%. Head injuries (39.9%) and strokes (39.6%) continue to be the most prevalent causes of acquired brain injury in the county, which mirrors the UK picture.

There has been a 13% increase in all ABI admissions in Suffolk in the last ten years, when there were 2,902 admissions to hospital in 2009-10.

Headway has updated its hospital admission statistics, revealing a concerning ongoing trend in the incidence of acquired brain injury in the UK.

Data from 2019-20 highlights that in the UK there is still one admission to hospital for brain injury every 90 seconds, one head injury every three minutes and one stroke every four minutes.

The increase in hospital admissions for brain injuries provides an up-to-date picture of the scale of the problem and further reinforces a continuing need for appropriate support services. Many of those admitted to hospital with a brain injury related primary diagnosis will experience long-term difficulties and require some form of rehabilitation and support.

These figures are a vital resource for those involved in developing the UK government’s ABI strategy, to which Headway is contributing. The statistics also provide accurate data with which to approach commissioners and evidence the need for sustain.

Dementia social support groups in June

Headway Suffolk runs monthly social support groups for those living with dementia in Ipswich, Martlesham and Castle Hill.

The groups provide stimulating and engaging activities, such as indoor games, cognitive exercises, discussions and social interaction. Fish and chips lunch and refreshments are also provided.

The person with dementia must be supported by a carer.

The groups meet in June on the following dates:

  • Ipswich (St Augustine’s Church Hall) – Friday 10th

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Recruitment Day on 17 June

We are hosting a Recruitment Day on Friday 17 June from 7.30am – 4pm to showcase the following exciting job opportunities available at Headway Suffolk:

Care staff
Cleaners to work in clients’ homes
Cook (part-time)

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Hubs closed for Jubilee celebrations

Our Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds hubs will be closed on bank holidays Thursday (2 June) and Friday (3 June) as the nation marks the Queen’s 70th year on the throne with a four-day Platinum Jubilee weekend celebration.

They return to normal opening days from Monday 6 June.

Ipswich Hub normal opening days are Monday – Friday.

Bury St Edmunds Hub normal opening days are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Headway Suffolk is recruiting

Headway Suffolk are currently recruiting for the following positions:

Community Support Worker (Suffolk)

Community Support Worker (Halesworth, Sudbury, Haverhill)

Sleep-In Carer for female, Ipswich

Support Worker, Ipswich Hub

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Delegates enjoy full day of Conference speakers

Delegates, both in-person and virtually, enjoyed a full day of keynote speeches at Headway Suffolk’s seventh annual Neuro Conference, which took place at Wherstead Park and was streamed online, on 11 May.

There were 11 main presentations, along with updates from Headway Suffolk by CEO Helen Fairweather, plus an expert panel from four injury lawyers to conclude the event.

The keynote speakers were:

  • Professor Silke Walter – Neurology consultant and Mobile Stroke Unit
  • Alec Charnley – Brain Injury Survivor and Headway Suffolk Director
  • Sam Jangum – Headway Suffolk Mental Health Nurse
  • His Honour Judge Martin Levett – Resident Judge, Ipswich Crown Court
  • Professor Huw Williams – Associate Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology
  • Tim Passmore – Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner
  • Chief Inspector Nick Paling – Head of Custody, Norfolk and Suffolk Police
  • Holly Warner – Justice Project, Headway UK
  • Keith Sheppard – Legal Executive Fellow (CILEX), Thompsons Solicitors
  • Amanda Cousins – Chief Operating Officer, United Kingdon Acquired Brain Injury Forum
  • Carole Almond – Dementia carer

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See the hidden me: Action for Brain Injury Week

Action for Brain Injury Week 2022 (16-22 May) focuses on what can be for many brain injury survivors, a hidden disability.

See the hidden me raises awareness and understanding of the often misunderstood symptoms of a brain injury, and work to alleviate the challenges, and frustrations, survivors face.

To the outside world, you may look as you did before, but whether it be the day-to-day difficulties, or reoccurring misunderstandings of the effects of your brain injury, See the hidden me will empower survivors to talk about when hidden disability has made life more challenging, whilst also asking the general public for more understanding and respect.

The campaign gives a voice to brain injury survivors so friends, families, colleagues and professionals gain a better insight into the invisible battles they may face every day.

Headway is sharing the stark results of the See the Hidden Me study which found that 76% of brain injury survivors experience problems on a daily basis because of the hidden, and often misunderstood nature of brain injury.

When a brain injury occurs, in a moment of trauma or medical emergency, the life of the person affected, alongside the lives of their loved ones, are changed in an instant. The See the Hidden Me campaign focuses on raising awareness of the battle that survivors and their carers face after the injury.

Key results:

  • More than half (55%) of brain injury survivors feel they have been unfairly treated as a direct consequence of their brain injury being hidden

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Consultation launched over brain injuries in football

Headway Suffolk welcomes a new consultation launched by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) into former footballers concerned about neurodegenerative diseases (NDD).

The PFA statement says: “Insight and data from the consultation will be used as part of ongoing discussions with the Premier League, The Football Association, English Football League and League Managers Association as work continues towards the establishment of an industry wide care fund to support players living with dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions.”

Dawn Astle is Project Lead for NDD in Football at the PFA and spoke passionately at Headway Suffolk’s Neuro Conference last year about losing her father, former England international Jeff Astle, who died in 2002 with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), caused by repeatedly heading the ball.

Dawn said: “We currently have hundreds of former players and their families who are suffering as a direct result of their careers in professional football. I hope this process will encourage more former players to come forward and help further demonstrate the sheer scale of the issue.

“My focus has always been on fighting to secure substantial and long-term support for families caring for loved ones with a neurodegenerative disease. I’ve always been clear that the responsibility and duty of care towards players rests, not just with the union, but the entire football industry.

“I also hope that consultation will provide yet more evidence for the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council. After nearly two decades, they now need to recognise CTE as an industrial disease. The evidence is clear and it can’t be ignored any longer.”

Read the PFA statement: www.thepfa.com/news/2022/5/9/pfa-launches-former-player-consultation-to-support-push-for-industry-wide-care-fund

Neuro Conference – just 2 weeks to go

Our seventh annual Neuro Conference is just two weeks away (Wednesday 11 May) and there’s still to get your tickets to the live online stream.

There are ten keynote speakers presenting on a range of subjects, including brain injury and crime, the mobile stroke unit, personal stories and brain injury rehab, as well as updates from Headway Suffolk.

Keynote Speakers
(in order of presenting)

Professor Silke Walter
Neurology consultant / Mobile Stroke Unit

His Honour Judge Martin Levett
Resident Judge, Ipswich Crown Court

Professor Huw Williams
Associate Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology

Tim Passmore
Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner

Chief Inspector Nick Paling
Head of Custody, Norfolk and Suffolk Police

Amanda Cousins
Chief Operating Officer, United Kingdon Acquired Brain Injury Forum

Gordon Watling
Suffolk Fire & Rescue / Brain Injury Survivor

Alec Charnley
Headway Suffolk Director / Brain Injury Survivor

Carole Almond
Caring for a loved with Dementia

David Hilton
Court of Protection, CFG Law

Tickets
£25 for the live online stream

Tickets purchased by calling 01473 712225 or by emailing [email protected].

The conference is being kindly sponsored by:

Ashtons Legal
CFG Law
East of England Co-Op
Hodge Jones & Allen
Irwin Mitchell
Slater and Gordon

New Understanding Brain Injury programme

Headway Suffolk is running a new Understanding Brain Injury programme in Ipswich in May and June for adults living with brain injury, stroke or neurological conditions.

The aim of the programme is to help persons understand the effects of their injury or condition and how it affects their daily routines.

It will run for 6 sessions on Monday mornings from 9 May and will be followed by a day for the family on 20 June.

The cost is £60 for the whole programme for new persons but free to existing Headway Suffolk clients.

To find out more and how to book, go to our courses page.