In a special edition of Soundbites, our Clinical Negligence team’s Amy Fielding meets Peeps relationship officer Penny Harger to learn more about the only UK-based charity dedicated to helping support families affected by hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

A lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain, HIE is a serious brain injury in newborns which can happen to anyone and is impossible to predict. Peeps works to support parents, families and friends of those who have experienced an HIE event.

This episode explores two of the key services provided by Peeps:

• peer support, where HIE parents and families are connected to others who have had a similar experience and can chat on a confidential basis, and
• counselling, made available through Peeps much faster than via the NHS on average and guaranteeing connection to a correctly qualified counsellor.

Penny explains how she became involved at Peeps and the process for first making contact with the charity. This is an invaluable discussion both for those directly or indirectly affected by HIE, and for anybody interested in learning more about the work Peeps does.

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In this episode of Stewarts Soundbites, Emma Lyons and Ben Townsend from our Personal Injury team discuss the differences between single and joint instructions, with a focus on the pros and cons of each for case managers, claimants and legal teams.

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The definition of orthotics is broader than many may expect. While it might involve equipment like braces or insoles, orthotic technology has evolved rapidly in recent years and encompasses any kind of device to help manage a functional deficit or pain in the body via external redistribution of force or pressure.

In this episode of Soundbites, Personal Injury partner Nichola Fosler speaks to principal orthotist Dominic Atta about the broad utility of orthotics, and how they can benefit claimants with a life-changing injury.

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Case management must be tailored to each individual, based on their needs and desires. Amputation cases involve unique challenges, and many amputees may benefit from a specialist case manager with extensive experience working on cases similar to theirs.

In this session, Stewarts partner Chris Smith speaks to Lauren McCluskey (Managing Director and specialist case manager at COTA Case Management) about the benefits a specialist case manager can bring to a complex amputee’s case.

This episode covers the particular complexities involved in an amputation case, and how these are borne out in a clinical sense and during the process of a legal claim. Lauren also explains why early instruction of a specialist case manager is so beneficial, and discuss the other types of specialists who might have an important role in the case team.

The conversation also addresses the importance of client specific goals, and how beneficial it can be to step away from a ‘conventional’ rehab journey in some instances.

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Music therapy is increasingly recognised as a useful potential tool to work alongside physical and other forms of therapy for patients with serious injuries. Claimants or defendants in an injury litigation may wish to commission expert witness reports following music and creative arts therapies as part of calculating quantum.

Partner Chris Smith speaks to music therapist Kate Cropper in this latest edition of Soundbites, in what promises to be an insightful discussion around this topic. They will consider questions including:

• What is neurologic music therapy?
• Why would you use a music therapist as part of a therapy team?
• How have perceptions around music therapy changed over time?
• How is music therapy incorporated into rehabilitation and a legal claim?

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

This episode of Soundbites continued our sports theme in response to the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. Senior associate Victoria Williams spoke to Martin McElhatton, Chief Executive of national charity for wheelchair sport, WheelPower. Based at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement, WheelPower provides sports opportunities for adults and children with disabilities, encouraging them into a more active lifestyle.

In this episode, Martin discussed the importance of providing sports opportunities to disabled people through the lens of his own life story. Having lived with a spinal injury for 45 years, sport has been a massive part of Martin’s life, both in his own sporting career and his work with WheelPower.

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This episode of Soundbites focuses on the differences and interplay between military and civilian rehabilitation. It looks at the role of the rehabilitation consultant in multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) and how they can be used to maximise the benefits that rehab can bring.

Partner Warren Maxwell speaks to Dr Rhodri Phillip OBE, consultant in rheumatology and rehabilitation medicine. Warren and Rhodri discuss how his work as an expert instructed in catastrophic injury cases gives him useful insights when working with MDTs.

The conversation covers:

• Differences between military and civilian rehabilitation programmes
• Recommendations for case managers working with military medical teams
• When a rehabilitation consultant should be used as part of the MDT
• Best practice in an MDT from an expert perspective

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

In the second episode of our two-part miniseries to mark Stroke Awareness Month in May, Clinical Negligence partner Alison Goldney spoke to consultant stroke and neurorehabilitation physician Liz Iveson.

Questions? Please contact us: Alison Goldney: agoldney@stewartslaw.com

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm