Headway - the UK’s largest brain injury charity - has accredited The Marbrook Centre’s specialist brain injury rehabilitation service as one of their approved providers.

The centre, based in St Neots, has an active rehabilitation service which was assessed against Headway’s best practice to ensure those living with complex physical and cognitive impairment are supported to the highest standards.

Marbrook’s team, which includes therapists, nurses and a senior team, all demonstrated the in-depth skill required to enable those living post-brain injury, a future with the highest quality life.

The parents of 25-year-old former fitness instructor Levi Rimmer, who was admitted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in August last year after a near-fatal car accident, have praised the work of the centre in the week their daughter left to go home.

Levi spent six weeks in intensive care at Addenbrooke’s, before being transferred to Northwick Park Hospital, in North London, to begin her rehabilitation. The prognosis by the consultant surgeon was that Levi may never walk or talk again and may have little in the way of cognitive skills due to the tears in her brain.

“During this time she was in a state of unconscious awareness and it was several months before she emerged from this state into conscious awareness,” said Levi’s parents, Dave and Debbie.

“She continued to improve and once she needed only minimal medication it was time to move to a more specialised rehabilitation unit and in February this year she was given a place at The Marbrook Centre.”

Dave and Debbie say that since moving to Marbrook, Levi’s improvement has been significant and she has benefitted from the one-to-one therapy sessions.

“The whole ethos of Marbrook is designed to make the residents and their loved ones more optimistic about the future,” the couple added. “The whole team at Marbrook are committed to providing a first class level of service. The care workers are professional and attentive to Levi’s needs and engage with her one-to-one which we feel is massively important.

“The goals that have been set have been achieved and excelled and Levi continues to make great strides not only literally, but physically, and thanks to the dedication of all the staff she is now able to walk using a frame and her speech is reaching new heights day by day. The facilities we enjoy at Marbrook are of the highest order and it gives us as parents the peace of mind we crave knowing that she is receiving the best care possible.

“It is important that she gains back her independence as quickly as is possible and with the help and encouragement of the Marbrook team she is now able to do things that six months ago we thought she would never do again.

“We now look forward to the future as we know that Levi has been given the chance to begin life all over again and that is testament to all the wonderful people who have supported her on her journey so far.”

Kathy Bullock, chief executive for Headway, Cambridgeshire, said the centre was a landmark organisation for people with a brain injury.

“We are really pleased that the Marbrook Centre has achieved Headway UK referred provider accreditation. It’s great for the county to have specialist provision, providing increased choice and resources for people with a brain injury.”

Lesa McAnulty, chief operating officer for Markbrook, added: “It is wonderful to have received this challenging accreditation.

“The standards required are high and a huge congratulations is in order for the wonderful team at Marbrook who collectively cleared the hurdles to reap the award. It is so much more than a badge, it is evidence of our dedicated and unwavering determination to help people who have had life-changing experiences be the best they possibly can and have a future to enjoy.”

The Marbrook Centre is a specialist nursing centre in St Neots providing neurological rehabilitation and long-term care for individuals post stroke, acute brain injury and other neurological conditions such as spinal cord injury.

The centre has 54 beds dedicated to neurological patients, 27 for active rehabilitation, 13 for longer term neurological nursing care and 14 for older peoples nursing.

INFO: For more information, go to: www.marbrook.co.uk.