The National Brain Appeal Newsletter December 2017
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A merry Christmas to all
So much happened in 2017 it is hard to sum up the highlights in brief but I will try!
The new Spinal Operating Theatre opened for use in the autumn with £4m funding from The National Brain Appeal. In addition, The Molly Lane Fox Unit has doubled in size and reopens in its new location just before the year ends with an official opening planned for the end of January
A new project has launched to raise £155,000 for a fascinating neuropsychology project (see more below).
Hundreds of you ran, sang, cycled, baked, flew, sold, swam, danced, climbed, dressed up and did so many other creative things in the interests of raising funds to support projects to provide better treatments and research new approaches for people with neurological conditions. For photographic evidence, a few minutes on our Facebook or Twitter pages will give you plenty to smile about over the festive season.
A massive thank you for your support past, present and future.
Theresa Dauncey, chief executive, The National Brain Appeal
Professor Cipolotti is leading the new project
Our Neuropsychology Appeal
Recently we launched our latest appeal, and it's one which will see benefits for patients affected by many neurological conditions.
Brain damage caused by neurological conditions or injury can affect cognitive functions such as memory, language and the ability to do everyday tasks like planning and reasoning. Neuropsychological tests which assess these functions and identify the extent of damage are currently paper-based, complex, difficult, time-consuming and a task that – until now – has been impossible to simplify or streamline.
For many patients this means they are leaving hospital with unexplained and unsupported symptoms, and often undiagnosed mental health problems. 52% of patients reported to have either depression or anxiety.
Led by Professor Lisa Cipolotti (pictured above at our recent Carol Concert), the project to digitise these complex tests, link them with MRI images of their brain and use them to fully assess the mental health and cognition of patients will have a huge impact on their quality of life after an illness or injury.
The National Brain Appeal has committed to raise £155,000 towards this ground-breaking new service. If you would like to donate to this innovative project, please click below.
Christmas Bake Off
Last week we welcomed Great British Bake Off winner Edd Kimber (above, right) and cookbook design queen Anita Mangan (above, left) to be judges at our annual bake off competition.
We invite supporters and staff at the hospital to take part, and we weren't disappointed! Well done to the neuroradiology who had two winners in their department. David McGuinness won Star Baker for his carrot cake and a festive focaccia. Runners up included Jenny Harvey with a chocolate hazelnut torte and operating theatres manager Alison McGovern's gingerbread cake. All entries were then sliced and sold to staff and patients, in aid of The National Brain Appeal.
After the judging, Edd said, “The National Brain Appeal’s ‘bake off’ was a nice festive event on a cold day, raising money for a great charity.” Anita commented, “Not only do the staff at The National Hospital do an amazing job, they also make great cakes!”
National Nostalgia
This is Christmas in The National Hospital's soldiers' ward in 1916. The First World War had a huge impact on the hospital, says its Annual Report:
"The National Hospital provides the special treatment required by soldiers returning from the fighting line who are suffering from nerve injury, nervous diseases, and severe mental and nervous shock. The Board have arranged to place at the disposal of the War Office a number of beds... and many British and Belgian soldiers have been received."
It goes on to report that a large number of staff had been called away for active service, and that the increased workload had fallen on those who remained, but to their credit, had managed to carry on working to the full and expected extent.
We send all those patients in The National Hospital over Christmas our very best wishes for a speedy recovery and a healthy and happy 2018.
OFFICE OPENING HOURS OVER CHRISTMAS
Office closes: Friday 22 December 2017 at 2pm
Office reopens: Tuesday 2 January 2018 at 9am
For more events, personal stories and how you can get involved, please visit
www.nationalbrainappeal.org, or follow us @brainappeal and on Facebook at fb/TheNationalBrainAppeal
Theresa, Marcelle, Cara, Leigh, Brooke, Alexis, Tina, Abbie, Jane, Eva and Marie
