Brain injury support is heading to Gateshead
15/09/2006
Headway Brain Injury Support Group is heading to Gateshead
We just wanted to say thank you. We will never be able to repay you or express how grateful we are to you for all the support and help. There would have been no one in the world that we would have had in preference to you to act for us.
John, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Headway UK the brain injury support charity is expanding its regional activity with a new group in Gateshead.
On
Wednesday, September 13th a public meeting is taking place at Gateshead
Civic Centre to look at services currently on offer and to encourage
new members to join the brain injury support group.
Headway
Groups can provide support, information and offer rehabilitation and
leisure activities to brain injury survivors, their families, friends
and carers.
Alastair White, North East Regional Co-ordinator for
Headway, said: "If your life is affected by brain injury or you have a
family member or friend who has survived a brain injury, please come
along to the meeting to find out how Headway can help you. Refreshments
will be provided and you will have the opportunity to meet with others
in a similar situation as yourself."
Fran Mayes, Newcastle based
lawyer at national law firm Irwin Mitchell is a specialist in handling
legal cases for people with brain injuries.
She said: "We are
delighted that a new Headway Group will be starting in Gateshead. We
act for a number of brain injured individuals in other areas of the
country who have really benefited from support and advice from Headway
Groups.
Brain injury
Every year up to one million people
who attend hospital will have sustained a head injury of some sort. A
blow to the head, often in a road accident or fall causes by far the
most common type of brain injury.
The effects of brain injury are
often devastating and can include physical disability, memory loss,
speech difficulties and severe behavioural problems.
It is estimated that as many as three quarters of mild brain injuries may go unreported and unassessed by medical professionals.
While
it is not hard to identify those who have suffered a severe injury,
requiring a stay in hospital, mild injuries with long-term consequences
can often be overlooked.
The meeting starts at 6.30pm on Wednesday, September 13 at Gateshead Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead.
Brain injury is the largest cause of acquired disability in the working age population.
- Amongst
those who are discharged from hospital following a minor injury, well
over half (57%) will experience symptoms that affect their lives, such
as poor memory, erratic mood swings and sensitivity to light and noise.
- Men
are three times more likely to have a brain injury than women and men
aged between 15 - 29 are FIVE times more likely to suffer brain injury.
- People
who have survived a brain injury generally have a normal life
expectancy. It is estimated that in England alone, there are 420,000
people of working age living with the long-term effects of traumatic
brain injury.
- Headway - the UK's leading brain injury charity -
provides support, services and information to brain injury survivors,
their families and carers.
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