New Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service For Birmingham, UK

Main Category: Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience;  Stroke
Article Date: 08 May 2007 - 12:00 PDT

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A specialist new residential service in Birmingham for people with acquired brain injury, run by leading national charity the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT), has been officially opened by ITV Central News presenter Llewela Bailey. Coinciding with national Brain Injury Awareness Week, the opening of this new facility, at 1101 Bristol Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, comes at a time when the issues around severe head injury are generating increased media profile.

Built in partnership with the Bournville Village Trust, the new purpose-built facility will provide continuing rehabilitation and residential facility for eight service users with an acquired brain injury, caused typically as a result of a car accident, stroke, assault or disease. The service will help these people to regain skills lost as a result of their injury, recover their independence and reintegrate into the community. The new unit's excellent facilities include a separate independent living flat where service users can be supported through a gradual programme for discharge for independent living in the community.

Several of the new service users will have previously undergone assessment and rehabilitation with BIRT's established rehabilitation service at nearby West Heath, which will be providing medical and clinical support to the new facility.

Nick Archer, Service Manager of 1101 Bristol Road, said "Provision of high quality continuing rehabilitation services is scarce in this area. 1101 Bristol Road will be an important resource for those who need additional support over a longer period to achieve their potential for independence. Our specialist new service will complement BIRT's existing clinical expertise locally and will add to the continuum of rehabilitation BIRT is able to offer across the Birmingham area."

1. The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT) is one of Europe's leading independent providers of brain injury rehabilitation services, ranging from assessment to comprehensive rehabilitation, long-term housing and care, and community-based support. BIRT currently supports over 550 people with acquired brain injury through ten specialist residential units and several community-based housing schemes across the country. For further information, please visit www.birt.co.uk.

2. BIRT is a division of the national charity, The Disabilities Trust, which provides expert care and support services to people with profound physical impairments, autism and learning disabilities, as well as brain injury. For further information on the work of The Disabilities Trust, please visit www.disabilities-trust.org.uk.

3. Bournville Village Trust was established in December 1900 by George Cadbury to provide a balanced community of decent homes in attractive surroundings. The Bournville Village in South Birmingham covers one thousand acres and now contains nearly eight thousand dwellings which are managed by the Trust. The Trust has also developed and is managing two new urban villages in inner city Birmingham at Bordesley and Bloomsbury, Nechells. A third is underway at Lightmoor in Telford. The Trust owns and manages housing schemes in Redditch, as well as over 500 properties in Shropshire.

Bournville Village Trust is a registered charity, which puts quality of life for its residents at the heart of its mission for the future.

4. National Brain Injury Awareness Week was held from 12-18 March 2007.

www.disabilities-trust.org.uk

www.birt.co.uk

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