Rehabilitation access for children with brain injuries enhanced by ARC East Midlands-funded researcher

Rachel Keetley has informed national policy, service specifications and guidelines to deliver systemic improvements in care for young people with acquired brain and neurological injuries.

Approximately 40,000 children are affected by acquired brain and spinal injuries each year in the UK and many of them experience significant impairment and require rehabilitation as part of their care pathway.

With no standardised model for the configuration and delivery of paediatric neurorehabilitation services in place, Rachel conducted a service evaluation of the Children’s Neurorehabilitation service (BRILL Team) at Nottingham Children’s Hospital – the regional specialist centre for paediatric neurosciences.

Rachel has undertaken a PhD funded by ARC East Midlands, University of Nottingham and Health Education England East Midlands, which explored the long-term wellbeing and participation needs of children and young people with acquired brain injuries and their families.

By working with children and young people, their parents, health, education, social care and charity practitioners, she identified key needs and developed ideas and solutions aimed at better supporting these families in the long-term.

This work has increased national awareness of their unique long-term needs and is informing national policy regarding the need for long-term support and access to rehabilitation for children and their families.

Locally, the regional specialist paediatric neurorehabilitation clinic has been developed to include longer term multi-disciplinary assessment and follow up care.

Rachel said: “Receiving this funding has been pivotal in my journey to improve rehabilitation care for children with acquired brain and neurological injuries. It has enabled me to conduct essential research that is now informing national policy and regional service developments to ensure better access and outcomes for these families.”

She added: “I’m deeply grateful for their support, which has allowed us to make progress, although there is still more to do.”

Professor Kamlesh Khunti, Director of ARC East Midlands, said: “We are incredibly proud to support Rachel’s groundbreaking work.

“Her research is making a significant impact on the rehabilitation care for children with acquired brain and neurological injuries.”

He concluded: “It’s exactly this kind of innovation and dedication that aligns with our mission to drive meaningful improvements in healthcare. We look forward to seeing the continued positive outcomes from her efforts.”