The Government has formally announced plans to develop a cross-departmental strategy on acquired brain injury. 

The announcement was made by Gillian Keegan, Minister of State for Care and Mental Health, in a written statement published on 2 December. It comes just a day before the scheduled second reading of Chris Bryant MP’s Private Members’ Bill on acquired brain injury.

Work on the strategy will commence in the new year with a Call for Evidence, with stakeholders including charities such as Headway, people living with brain injury, their families and carers, and healthcare professionals invited to share their views about what should be prioritised in the strategy.

The development of the strategy will be overseen by a Programme Board, co-chaired by Gillian Keegan and Chris Bryant.

Speaking of the victory, the MP said:

"I am delighted we've won the campaign for a cross-departmental strategy for acquired brain injury today,”

“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.  Today is a victory for everyone with an acquired brain injury."

A campaign calling for an Acquired Brain Injury Private Members' Bill, headed by Chris Bryant MP and supported by national charity, Headway - the brain injury association was launched in October 2021, with the aim of achieving the creation of a national strategy to ensure the specialist rehabilitation and support needs of the brain injured-community are met. 

See Headway - the brain injury association's website for further information on the campaign.