Cyclist plea for NHS brain injury patient support

A cyclist who suffered a brain injury in a crash has said his "darkest, scariest time" was when he was discharged from hospital.

Richard McMann was in a coma and spent 11 weeks at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, but said after he was discharged he went four months without the support he needed.

Last month, Labour MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East Andy McDonald told the prime minister he was concerned there was a "chronic shortage" of beds at the hospital for people with brain injuries.

Consultant neuropsychologist Dr Jenna Moffitt said the hospital does not have the funding to provide community neurorehabilitation care once patients were discharged.

After he left hospital, Mr McMann said he felt his condition was getting worse.

"I rang the hospital ward begging, pleading and crying my eyes out, saying 'please will you take me back?'

"I didn't know where I was or what I was doing."

James Cook University Hospital only has 18 beds in its neurorehabilitation unit to serve an area of about 1.4 million people and it lacks a community team.

McDonald said national guidelines from the British Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (BSPRM) state 80 beds are needed to serve such a large population.

"This means many patients across Tees Valley are not getting the rehabilitation they need," he said.

Once a patient is discharged it is recommended that a neurorehabilitation team is in place to "help them adjust to life", Dr Moffitt said.

These teams consist of 20 to 30 nurses, doctors, psychologists, neuropsychologists, physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists.

"We are not funded for a community neurorehabilitation team in this area," she said.

Addressing McDonald's concerns, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the government was investing £350,000 on research to support people with neurological disorders and rehabilitate them into the community.

But Mr McMann said the level of support for people with lifelong serious brain injuries across Tees Valley is not good enough and he believes too many people are not getting the help they need and entitled to.

"Are we saying to these people they are on your own?" he asked.

"'Just sit there, you're not dead and you have to accept that' - that can't be right."

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