The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published updated guidance on ‘Rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders including acquired brain injury’ (NG252), including those who have sustained an acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury.

At Switalskis, our Brain Injury Team welcomes this important update. It provides much-needed clarity on what good rehabilitation should look like and what you, or a loved one, are entitled to expect from health and social care services.

Putting people at the centre of rehabilitation

The new NICE guideline, published 15 October, aims to ensure that everyone with a neurological injury or disorder receives person-centred, coordinated and timely rehabilitation, no matter where they live or what caused their condition.

Rehabilitation isn’t just about recovery. It’s about helping people rebuild their lives, regain independence and participate fully in everyday life. The guidance applies to children, young people and adults with:

• Acquired brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Peripheral nerve disorders
• Functional neurological disorder (FND)
• Progressive neurological disease such as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease

It does not cover cerebral palsy, dementia, epilepsy or stroke in adults, as these have separate NICE guidelines.

What the guidance says you should expect

NICE’s new recommendations are designed to make sure that rehabilitation is holistic, joined-up and personalised. You should expect to:

• Receive a comprehensive assessment of your rehabilitation needs as soon as possible.
• Have your rehabilitation goals agreed with you, not decided for you.
• Be given a single point of contact – someone who helps coordinate your care and ensures you can access the right services.
• Have your family and carers offered support, if that’s what you both want.
• Be provided with equipment and home adaptations to support daily living.
• Receive interventions that support your social, psychological, emotional, cognitive, communication and physical wellbeing.

You may also be offered a rehabilitation passport, a simplified version of your plan that you can carry with you to appointments or between services.

A single point of contact: A key step forward

A key recommendation within the new guidance is that everyone requiring neurorehabilitation should have a single point of contact that crosses organisational boundaries. Depending on an individual’s needs, this may take the form of:

• A key contact for those who are largely self-managing;
• A key worker for people needing more structured support; or
• A specialist case manager for individuals with complex needs who require coordinated health and social care support across time and settings.

This recommendation represents a significant recognition of the principles that members of the British Association of Brain Injury and Complex Case Management (BABICM) have championed for over three decades. It highlights the vital role of specialist case management in delivering truly person-centred, integrated care - something our team has long supported and seen the benefits of in practice.

Sam McFadyen, brain injury solicitor and BABICM member comments: “At Switalskis, we work closely with specialist case managers to ensure that our clients not only access early rehabilitation but continue to receive coordinated, consistent support throughout their recovery and beyond.”

Why this matters

For many of our clients, accessing consistent and coordinated rehabilitation can be a struggle. Services often vary depending on postcode or capacity, leaving families unsure where to turn.

This new guidance reinforces what we have long advocated for: joined-up rehabilitation that meets every aspect of a person’s needs, from early hospital care to long-term community support.

It recognises that rehabilitation isn’t just about therapy sessions – it’s about helping people return to education, work, social activities, relationships and everyday life with confidence and dignity.

Making decisions together

NICE also emphasises the importance of shared decision-making. Your rehabilitation should be built around your goals and priorities. Health and social care professionals must ensure you have clear information, time to ask questions and the opportunity to express what matters most to you.

If you need support to understand information, you have the right to ask for it to be provided in a way that meets your needs.

Where to find support

If you are living with the effects of a brain or spinal injury, or you’re caring for someone who is, help is available. You can find more information and support from:

• Headway – The Brain Injury Association
• Brain Injury Group
• Spinal Injuries Association
• Neurological Alliance
• Parkinson’s UK, MS Society, and other specialist organisations

You can also read the full NICE guideline on rehabilitation for neurological disorders here .

How Switalskis can help

At Switalskis, we see first-hand how vital early and effective rehabilitation is after a brain or spinal injury. Our specialist solicitors work closely with rehabilitation providers, therapists and case managers to ensure our clients receive the support, funding and access to treatment they need – both during and after their legal claim.

If you would like to talk about how this guidance might affect your rehabilitation journey, or to discuss how we can help you access the right care and support, please contact our Brain Injury Team.