Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What services do you provide?
A: We provide inpatient rehabilitation. We have designated services for long term rehabilitation, both secure and community based. We can also provide outpatient treatment by appointment and medical legal reports.
For further details of our services please click here
Q: Does the National Brain Injury Centre cater for long term needs?
A: Yes – 32a Berkeley Close is a community based service for both males and females, which aims to work with service users to optimise access to the community and improve quality of life through the provision of appropriate levels of support.
Q: Are secure long term needs catered for?
A: Yes - Kemsley South which is a locked service for service users with a range of deficits, where the focus is on maintaining rehabilitation gains already made and improving quality of life, but where there is continuing incidence of challenging behaviour.
Q: Do you admit people with complex needs or who have medical problems such as encephalitis?
A: Yes. Our speciality is dealing with complex needs, both physical and mental health related.
Q: What are your admission criteria?
A: We provide in-patient services for young people and adults between the ages of 13 and 65 with acquired brain injury. The programme is of special relevance to those whose behavioural problems are likely to be helped by rehabilitation but are currently of such severity that prevents reintegration back into the community, or prevents attainment of rehabilitation potential of physical, functional, cognitive and emotional problems in other settings. Service users should be medically stable and not have a degenerative condition.
Q: How are referrals made?
A: Service Users to be funded by the NHS need to be referred by their GP or a Consultant. For those able to fund their own care, e.g. from personal injury compensation, referrals can be made by a Case Manager, Solicitor or family member.
To make a referral please contact our Admissions office on 0800 434 6690 or click here for details of our referrals process
Q: Is it possible to visit the National Brain Injury Centre before a service user is admitted?
A: Yes, visits to appropriate ward areas can be arranged by contacting the Business Administrator on 01604 616454.
Q: Is it possible to visit at any other time?
A: Yes, we run Visitor Days, for professionals involved in brain injury, throughout the year for which a small charge is made. For dates please contact our Business Administrator on 01604 616454 or click here.
Q: How much does rehabilitation cost?
A: Prices vary depending upon the service being accessed. For details of current prices please contact the Business Administrator on 01604 616454.
Q: Who pays for rehabilitation?
A: Most of our service users are funded by the NHS with some jointly funded by Social Services. We are also able to deal direct with personal injury solicitors, insurance companies and non UK health authorities.
Q: How long does rehabilitation last?
A: This varies between individuals. Following admission, service users are assessed by members of the-inter disciplinary teams over a minimum period of 8 weeks. After this an individual treatment plan is agreed which will give more information.
Q: Are service users able to visit their homes during rehabilitation?
A: Yes - service users are able to visit home by agreement with relatives unless they have restrictions placed on them under the Mental Health Act.
Q: Can service users bring their own televisions or other personal belongings when admitted?
A: Yes - service users may bring personal items to make them feel at home. A comprehensive risk assessment would be carried out on admission, which would be ongoing, and the outcome of this may on occasions preclude the service user having access to some of their personal items. For more detail on what items are acceptable please contact the Business Administrator on 01604 616454.
Q: Where are service users discharged to after rehabilitation?
A: Service users are discharged to facilities which can meet their individual need. Level of independence, personal choice and availability of placements will all be assessed. This may include other rehabilitation units, case management, residential homes, hostels or return to their own home.
Q: What are the visiting times of each ward?
A: Visiting times vary between wards and should be checked with the nurse in charge of the ward before visiting.
Q: What advice and training do you provide for carers?
A: Our discharge packages will include advice, training and follow-up for family and carers where this is appropriate.
Q: Do you offer general advice and training for carers?
A: No - if you would like information about advice or training for carers please click here to connect to the Headway website. Headway, the National Head Injuries Association, aims to promote understanding of all aspects of head injury and to provide information, support and services to people with head injury, their families and carers.
A Relative’s Support Group is held on the 3rd Thursday of each month commencing at 7pm, for relatives to drop in on. We also offer family involvement participation wherever possible in our community based service.
The aim of the relative’s support group is to provide relatives of people who have had a brain injury an opportunity to meet with their peers and relevant brain injury professionals. The meetings provide an opportunity to share information and education about the impact of brain injury upon the survivor and their family. The meetings usually come in the form of a presentation and an informal discussion with a brain injury professional, and/or via learning from sharing experiences with a peer group.
For our leaflet, please click here.
Q: Do you offer advice to general enquirers?
A: No - if you would like to talk to someone and get specialist support and answers you can contact the British Brain and Spinal Foundation Helpline: 0800 328 5758, the British Epilepsy Association Helpline: 01494 601300 or the Headway Helpline: 0115 924 0800