Brain injury victims ‘left to fend for themselves’
A North East dad left with devastating brain injuries after a one punch attack says he's struggling to rebuild his life.
It's claimed people suffering brain injuries in the North East are held back from rebuilding their lives because there's no aftercare.
A Seaton Delaval dad almost died when he was the victim of a one punch attack two years ago.
Wayne Urwin says his life is still upside down, as he struggled to rebuild it since being discharged from hospital. He said: “You may look ok, but its’ an invisible illness. It’s what’s going on inside, your brain is damaged for life. I suffer memory loss, I’m now epileptic… It’s all things I didn’t have to deal with before.”
“I was punched and I fell, hitting my head on the pavement and suffering from a catastrophic brain injury. My family were told I wouldn’t survive the night.”
“It was an extremely lonely time trying to recover and continues to be really. You are left with a lot of unanswered questions about what your future holds.”
The latest figures show over 16,000 people are admitted to North East hospitals in just one year.
Brain injury support charity, Headway, say rates are rising for our region, up by 10% since 2005-6.
Nicola Hughes, from Headway Darlington and District, says a rehabilitation programme is urgently needed for those left to cope with life changing brain injuries. She said:
“Everyone that has a life altering injury, regardless of what that is, deserves a chance to rebuild their lives. Sadly that doesn’t really happen in brain injury.”
“This is about changing the status quo and saying it is not acceptable to have a life changing injury and no short or long term support after hospital discharge on actually how you can pull your life back together.”
“The majority that do have a brain injury don’t have a rehabilitation plan or support after discharge from hospital. So that means that many are isolated in a world where brain injury is misunderstood in the work place, socially and also at home.”
To find out more about brain injuries and support you can access visit:
There's also more information about One Punch violence over at: