Only with right support can individuals with cerebral palsy reach full potential
- 06.10.2017
- EmmaArnold
- Clinical-negligence, Clinical-negligence
To mark World Cerebral Palsy Day, we look at how cerebral palsy is a complex and often hard to define injury which can mean different things to different people. However, the one thing which seems to be a common theme is that it is only with the right support can individuals with cerebral palsy reach their full potential.
The cerebral palsy community says one of the biggest concerns for them is the lack of information for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cerebral palsy. This is so doctors and therapists can make better decisions earlier in the process and provide everyone with cerebral palsy the best assistance to live the fullest possible life.
Here at Potter Rees Dolan we have dealt with claims for individuals who have severe disabilities associated with their cerebral palsy leaving them to require 24 hour support with all aspects of their daily living. We have also dealt with claims where the individual has physical difficulties only which presents as weakness in some limbs and lack of co-ordination.
Whilst the injury is the same, cerebral palsy, the level of disability is hugely different and the impact on the individual and their family hugely different. We therefore stress the importance of the individual, not the label.
Considering someone’s specific disability and specific needs enables that individual to receive a tailored support package which is best to help them be as independent as possible and achieve as much as possible.
For some individuals with cerebral palsy, their needs might be met by ongoing therapies such as physiotherapy and hydrotherapy combined with suitable adaptations to their home so that they can get around it safely and independently.
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Conversely, someone with a high level of need might never be able to manage a home independently and might therefore need sufficient room for a care team to provide 24 hour support to them, room for them to undertake therapies and, importantly, room for them to be part of their family.
It is vital that where there is a claim for compensation associated with cerebral palsy the full needs of the individual are considered not just in the short team but the medium and long team to enable any package of support to grow with the individual and continue to meet their needs for life.
