Speaking in the House of Commons today, Dr Lisa Cameron MP, said: “May we have a debate on the inadequacy of PIP and ESA assessments for individuals with brain injury? Research by Headway found that 76% of respondents said it was difficult to explain the effects of brain injury due to the nature of the forms and 71% felt that assessors did not understand their brain injury. We are failing a very vulnerable group.”
Dr Cameron is the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Disability and yesterday attended a lobbying reception in Parliament for brain injury survivors, their families and carers who came to Westminster to tell MPs about life after brain injury.
Dr Clare Mills, Headway’s Public Affairs Manager, said: “I was able to talk to Dr Cameron yesterday and provide her with information about Headway’s Right First Time campaign. I’m so pleased she has taken up this issue in Parliament..
“We will continue to campaign on this important issue. When decisions about people’s disability benefits are being taken, they need to be right first time. Vulnerable people dealing with the effects of brain injury, which are often hidden and fluctuating, should not be put under additional stress by a system which makes so many mistakes.”
Dr Lisa Cameron is the SNP MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow. As well as chairing the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Disability, she is a member of Parliament’s influential Health Committee.
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