Hospital Liaison Service

We provide a comprehensive hospital liaison service for individuals with brain injuries and their families, ensuring they receive the guidance and support needed during a critical time. Our service operates across both East and West Sussex, with a dedicated presence at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, and St. Richard’s Hospital in Chichester.

Our team is committed to offering personalised assistance, addressing the unique needs of each patient and their loved ones as they navigate the complexities of brain injury treatment and recovery. This includes providing information on available resources, facilitating communication between medical staff and families, and offering emotional support to help manage the challenges that arise during hospitalisation and the transition to home care.

Our long-standing aim has always been to expand our reach and support more patients and families receiving care at other hospitals throughout Sussex.

By broadening our services, we strive to ensure that no one faces the journey of recovery alone, regardless of where they are being treated.

Headway is here to help

Speak to one our team for guidance or information on our services, your own rehabilitation and wellbeing, referral or anything related to brain injury. Send us an email, give us a call or fill out the form on the contact page and we will get back to you.

Getting Advice

Receiving a diagnosis of a brain injury is a deeply distressing and often bewildering experience for individuals and their families, as well as their broader support networks. At Headway Sussex, we are dedicated to alleviating some of this distress by offering our support wherever possible.

Our role involves collaborating with medical teams and other healthcare professionals to provide guidance and Headway’s specialised support services to individuals who are nearing discharge from hospital or who have recently been discharged.

This support extends to those who have undergone extended hospital stays due to conditions such as stroke, brain tumours, or severe traumatic brain injuries, as well as to those who have had shorter hospital visits following incidents like concussion or mild traumatic brain injury.

We furnish comprehensive information about the array of services available through Headway Sussex, as well as other relevant support options that may be accessible.

This includes practical advice on managing life with a brain injury and navigating the changes and symptoms that can significantly impact individuals’ lives.

Discharge from Hospital

Our Team will try to keep in contact and check on your wellbeing over the phone once you have been discharged from hospital. This may include advice on how to arrange funded support for individual outreach depending on your needs and choices.

Knowing how to cope after leaving hospital can be very difficult so we may help with referring you to other services and to make sure you know what your options are moving forwards. This can include advice on planning for your future wellbeing and social connections.

Getting Support

The service welcomes individuals aged 18 and above who have experienced a brain injury, as well as their family caregivers.

For assistance, patients and their family caregivers can reach out to Sam Shephard, our Hospital Liaison and Groups Lead, at 07776 528796.

To access our services, we require confirmation of a brain injury diagnosis, which can be as straightforward as an email verification. Medical teams overseeing patients can also direct brain injury survivors and their families to our service.

During an initial meeting, Headway Sussex will collect necessary personal information and obtain consent as required.

For formal referrals, please contact us via email at: referrals@headwaysussex.org.uk

Our Hospital Liaison Service

Our Hospital Liaison Officers, Kate and Davina, are driven by a shared commitment to enhancing support for brain injury survivors and their families.

Kate brings a wealth of professional experience, having served as a Social Worker in fostering since 2009 and later as a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at a local university. Her journey took a poignant turn following a stroke in March 2021, during which she found tremendous solace in support groups and deepened her understanding of brain injury. This personal experience imbues Kate’s role with invaluable insights and a profound dedication to guiding others through their recovery journey. Based primarily in East Sussex, Kate is stationed at Princess Royal Hospital and Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Davina’s career has been dedicated exclusively to healthcare since graduating from King’s College London. Her diverse roles have included service in urgent treatment centres, hospital settings, and providing palliative care, all while extensively supporting community healthcare across Brighton and Worthing. Davina’s own life was significantly impacted by a brain injury in 2017, an experience that fuels her compassionate commitment to supporting individuals and families facing similar challenges. Based in West Sussex, Davina is poised to offer crucial support and understanding at St. Davids Hospital, Chichester.

Both Kate and Davina boast a proven track record of forging impactful partnerships within the healthcare sector, underscoring their ability to establish effective collaborations.

In their capacity as Hospital Liaison Facilitators, Kate and Davina undertake critical responsibilities:

Nurturing relationships with local hospitals and healthcare professionals to strengthen our network of support.
Promoting awareness of Headway Sussex’s comprehensive programmes and services within medical facilities.
Facilitating a smooth transition for patients and their families from medical care to our dedicated support services.
Actively gathering and integrating feedback to continually enhance the effectiveness of our support initiatives.

Kate and Davina’s efforts play an instrumental role in fostering closer collaboration between the medical community and Headway Sussex.

Through their dedicated work, they enrich the lives of individuals impacted by brain injuries, ensuring they receive the comprehensive support they need.