The Brain Injury Social Work Group (BISWG) is delighted that the Government has announced it will implement a cross departmental strategy for Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).
Gillian Keegan, Minister of State for Care and Mental Health released the statement following a Prime Ministers Question posed by Chris Bryant, MP on 24th November which asked Boris Johnson whether the Government would develop a strategy for acquired brain injury.
Chris Bryant is the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Acquired Brain Injury, he said: “The Government has announced it will be creating a Panel Board in the New Year with officials from several departments to start devising a whole-Government strategy on ABI. In other words, the Government is doing precisely what my Acquired Brain Injury Private Members’ Bill is calling for.
“A huge thank you to all the acquired brain injury charities, MPs and other campaigners who have been supporting my Bill and the campaign.”
Chris Bryant and Gillian Keegan will co-chair the programme board which will begin by launching a call for evidence in early 2022.
Jackie Burt, Chair of BISWG said: “The Government’s announcement that they will be implementing a full ABI strategy is hugely welcome news. Working on the social care side of things we are acutely aware of how much joint work is needed and what a difference it will make to better supporting people with an acquired brain injury.
Many organisations, charities, clinicians, service users and MPs have campaigned to push for the strategy. There is much work to do in the New Year BISWG will contribute to the call for evidence and any further work required.