Complex specialized rehabilitation following severe brain injury: a UK perspective

Abstract

This article describes the setup of brain injury rehabilitation services in the United Kingdom within the context of the National Health Service. The rehabilitation services are broadly divided into local general rehabilitation services, specialist district rehabilitation services, and complex specialized rehabilitation services. The Department of Health published the National Service Framework for Long-Term Neurological Conditions in 2005, setting out the 11 quality requirements to ensure provision of lifelong patient-centered care. A network of rehabilitation services, cited as a model of good practice by the Department of Health, including specialist inpatient and community outreach services for patients with complex brain injury, with research embedded within the clinical program and close collaboration between the clinicians and researchers are described.