NIHR SRMRC’s PPI lead attends Headway Worcestershire’s Princess Anne visit

The NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre (SRMRC) Patient and Public Involvement Officer, Laura Nice, recently attended a visit from the Princess Royal celebrating the work of a local brain injury charity.

Princess Anne visited Headway Worcestershire to officially open its new kitchen, meet some of the brain injury survivors the charity support, and unveil a small plaque to commemorate her time with the charity.

The Princess was due to visit the centre on March 2 but that trip was postponed at the last minute after the county was covered with snow and a severe weather warning was issued.

Headway Worcestershire, which is based in Gregory’s Mill Street, support brain injury survivors and their families from across the county, providing them with crucial rehabilitation opportunities, as well as the chance to socialise, develop and interact with others with similar challenges.

Kathryn Davis, chief executive of Headway Worcestershire, said everyone at the charity was thrilled and delighted to welcome the Princess to the charity.

She said: “It will be an opportunity to showcase our outstanding team and for our service users to share their stories with The Princess Royal of how acquired brain injury has changed their lives and their family’s lives, as well as the role Headway plays in supporting their recovery and future life.”

Laura Nice, NIHR SRMRC PPI Officer, added: “It was a privilege to be invited to attend the Princess Royal’s visit and to see the support for trauma patients that are available at Headway first-hand.

“The SRMRC works closely with Headway, working on trauma research to improve outcomes for all patients, including brain injury survivors.”

Help is available from Headway at their hub in the middle of Worcester, and through an outreach service.

One of the survivors who has benefitted from the outreach service is Jenny West, who had a stroke and two brain haemorrhages sixteen years ago.

She said: “It is great that the Princess will see all the ways Headway helps people with brain injuries in this area.

“I really like the Princess Royal. She has great spirit”.

More information about Headway Worcestershire can be found at http://headwayworcestershire.org.uk/