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Making sense of funding care arrangements

On 18 August 2006 approximately 100 people from the legal and medical professions gathered for a joint seminar hosted by the local Acquired Brain Injury Forums of Kent, Sussex and Surrey to listen to Chris Wall, present on the funding of care arrangements. For those that have an acquired brain injury, and their families, care is a vital part of their future whether or not they are pursuing a personal injury claim. NHS funding of this care is a minefield! First the injured person must undergo an assessment which will highlight their needs and the next step is to see if there are the necessary services/resources in their area for them to have all the care and assistance they require. Unfortunately the message seemed to be from those in the medical profession that so often the resources are lacking.

As personal injury lawyers we are constantly fighting to ensure that our clients who have an acquired brain injury will receive compensation to meet all their care needs for the rest of their lives, whilst Defendants argue that they should only be responsible for the care that is required over and above what can be provided by the state. With the constant shift in the NHS and Social Services we believe it is better for the Defendant to foot the bill for all the care that is required, on a private basis. This would take the pressure off the NHS resulting in services that are more readily available for those who do not have a personal injury claim to pursue.

For future Kent Acquired Brain Injury Forum events please visit the website www.kabif.org.uk or contact Frances Pierce (view full profile) on 01892 510000 or email fpierce@ts-p.co.uk.

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