Brain Injury Patients Raise Funds To Thank Air Ambulance

Residents at the Priory Group’s Egerton Road Neuro-rehabilitation Centre in Bexhill on Sea have handed over a cheque for £260 to the Sussex air ambulance. The money was raised during a raffle at the home’s Christmas party.

Egerton Road is a small residential home, which provides a lively and supportive environment for younger adults with an acquired brain injury. A significant number of the residents benefitted from the services of the air ambulance when they had the accident that led to an acquired brain injury.

The home is part of the Priory Group's neuro-rehabilitation services which specialise in the treatment of acquired brain injury and neuro rehabilitation for adults in an environment that provides individual care and positive outcomes.

More than 120,000 people in the U.K. are currently suffering from the long-term effects of severe brain damage caused by head injury. According to brain injury charity Headway in the UK around one million people attend hospital as a result of brain injury; of these about 150,000 will have a minor brain injury resulting in unconsciousness for 15 minutes or less. Many will have short-term loss of attention, concentration and memory: usually they recover completely within 3-6 months.

Around 10,000 will suffer moderate brain damage causing unconsciousness for up to 6 hours. Some will still have physical and psychological problems after 5 years.

Up to 11,000 will suffer severe brain injuries and be unconscious for 6 hours or more. Of these, only about 15% will return to work within 5 years. Many will not work again and around 4,500 will require full time care for the rest of their lives.

Home manager Marsha Langley said: “There is no doubt that the life saving work done by the air ambulance service has had a huge impact on many of our residents. We are delighted that in a small way we can support this valuable resource.”

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