Hospital brains trust puts fall victim on the road to recovery

Harry Coleshill, 69, suffered life-threatening brain injuries after slipping on ice when he was putting out his dustbin at his home in Darnall, Sheffield, in January.

He was rushed to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield for treatment and doctors initially feared his injuries could prove fatal.

But thanks to expert help from a specialist brain injury team at the hospital in Sheffield he has made a good recovery after a total of four months in hospital including five weeks in intensive care.

Now he is back at home following months of rehabilitation and treatment including an intensive programme of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.

Mr Coleshill, a former grave digger, said he was looking ahead to the summer and the rest of his retirement

"I only went to put the bins out and the next thing I knew I was in the hospital. I really didn't realise how lucky I have been until my family told me," he said.

"I'm so grateful for the care I have received and can't wait to get on with my life again. If it hadn't been for the hospital, I wouldn't be here now."

His wife Karina said: "We are so glad to have him back home and are so grateful to the hospital staff that looked after him and saved him. We really thought he was gone."

Mr Coleshill said he was still having difficulty with his eyes which meant he could not read and is receiving physiotherapy but is now able to get about.

"I'm glad to be home – it's a long time to be in hospital," he said.

The brain injury team brings expertise on rehabilitative care to deal with patients admitted with head injuries or to advise surgeons and intensive care specialists on aspects of care for patients.

Consultant Rajiv Singh, who leads the team, said Mr Coleshill's treatment was an excellent example of how the service helped people and it could serve as a model for other parts of the country.

"We are delighted Harry has made an excellent recovery both physically and in terms of higher brain function and we hope he can now continue to enjoy his retirement," he said.

He said there was growing evidence that treatment to counteract the impact of head injuries should begin earlier in order to minimise damage to patients.

The service deals with around 80 people each year in Sheffield whose brain injuries require treatment in hospital for more than 48 hours and advises in the treatment of dozens of other patients with brain injuries whose condition mean they are treated primarily by other specialists.

His team can call on occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists to help patients as they recover but an important element includes a social worker who assesses the needs of patients before they return home to put a care package together to help them and their families.

Patients are also seen after their discharge when they are assessed for other problems that can emerge including subtle behavioural changes.

He said: "More people are becoming aware that brain injury is a big issue.

"Head injuries are one of the most common causes of A&E attendance yet its management has always been spread amongst many different specialties.

"This new unified team approach really does ensure that patients are getting the best possible service."

n Brain Injury Awareness Week will be held next week. The head injury charity Headway will focus its efforts on the information given by A&E units to those suffering minor head injuries.

The campaign will highlight warning signs for head injury patients to return to hospital and the potential impact of long-term problems caused by concussion.

An estimated one million people each year suffer head injuries and around 135,000 are admitted to hospital for treatment. Around half a million adults live with disabilities caused by brain injuries.

Balance training urged for elderly

The number of falls among the elderly can be cut dramatically if people are shown simple techniques for looking after themselves, researchers said today.

Balance training, adaptations to the home and practice in getting up quickly can cut the rate of falls by 55 per cent, they said.

Falls among older people can lead to lengthy hospital stays and are much more likely to prove fatal than in younger age groups.

One in four over-70s falls each year and nearly 50 per cent are 80, half of whom fall again in the following year.

The research found community programmes to prevent falls led people to feel more confident in their daily activities.

Researchers from the University of Nottingham examined 204 over 60s who were living at home or in residential care as part of the study, published online in the British Medical Journal.

They were split into two groups, with one group receiving support and advice from fall experts working in the community.