Frances Pierce Explains About the Rehabilitation Prescription

A major trauma pathway was launched in the UK in 2010. It recommended that every patient admitted to a major trauma centre should have their rehabilitation needs assessed and documented through what is known as a “rehabilitation prescription”.

What is contained in a rehabilitation prescription document?

The prescription document lists recommendations as to how the patients’ needs should be met following discharge from a major trauma centre. The prescription can be quite complex if an individual is catastrophically injured as their needs can be considerable. Having one comprehensive document put together by specialist clinicians who are independent is a great idea.

Rehabilitation prescription frequently asked questions

How many people however know about rehabilitation prescriptions? Are they being used regularly? Do GPs for instance get a copy when their patient is repatriated home? Who is monitoring these prescriptions and are they helping with the patient’s pathway to rehabilitation? Sadly, there are few answers to these questions. Funds are so short on the NHS they have rarely been talked about and I know of no clients whose GP has seen one. What a shame that a fantastic initiative such as this has not been grasped and supported by those responsible for ongoing care and rehabilitation. It wouldn’t take much for the prescription to be sent to the GP or moved across to Social Services from Health if the client’s needs require both organisations to support them.

What to do if you know someone who has been through a major trauma centre

Hopefully having read this, if you know of clients or patients with complex needs who have been through a major trauma centre, you could contact them and ask for the prescription. It should exist and they are required to provide it when a patient is discharged. At Dean Wilson, the team try their best to support clients with regard to their rehabilitation pathway as are experts in sign-posting clients in the right direction.

Further information

If you’d like more information, contact fvp@deanwilson.co.uk. Alternatively, visit the personal injury injury solicitors page to read more about our areas of specialism.