The Friends of Community

Head Injury Service

Buckinghamshire

Charity Registration no: 1163310

All of us at CHIS cannot think of anyone who deserves such an honour more than Andy and it is a fitting testament to the matchless contribution he has made, and continues to make, to those with acquired brain injury.

It is fantastic to know that his legacy to CHIS has been formally recognised in such a way”.

Dr Nigel King    Clinical Lead, CHIS’

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Dr Andy Tyerman was asked for his comments on his British Empire Medal which will be awarded by the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire

“After qualifying as a clinical psychologist in 1979, I developed my neurorehabilitation skills at the then Wolfson Medical Rehabilitation Centre and the Joint Services Medical Rehabilitation Unit at RAF Chessington. At these two centres I also completed research on the experience and psychological (and other) needs of people with severe head injury, which has been the foundation of my career.

After moving to the Community Physical Rehabilitation Service in Aylesbury in 1987, I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to plan, develop and oversee provision of the Community Head Injury Service. This was established in 1992 as part of Aylesbury Vale Health Authority and developed across Aylesbury Vale Community Healthcare NHS Trust and Vale of Aylesbury and Buckinghamshire Primary Care NHS Trusts before being transferred to Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust in 2010, where the service continues. See https://www.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/our-services/head-injuries/

Whilst we struggled at times to provide the highest quality of service, particularly in the early stages of development and more recently in the age of austerity, we strived to provide as responsive a service as possible with the resources available to us. The positive response of people with brain injury and their families to our efforts to assist them in understanding and living with the challenges of brain injury and their constructive feedback have been critical. The integrated community rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation and family services have all been cited as national examples of good practice. This would not have been possible without an excellent inter-disciplinary team, who have contributed so much to the development of the service. The support of colleagues from many professions has been instrumental in sustaining me in my career, particularly the shared experience over 45 years with my partner Ruth, since we met whilst working in the brain injury team at RAF Chessington in 1979.

Across my career I have worked with Headway, the brain injury association: speaking at many group meetings and conferences, in establishing local groups, serving on boards and advisory groups and as a Headway UK Trustee. Since retirement I continue to advise, supervise and teach on rehabilitation after brain injury. This includes supporting a group in Reykjavik seeking to implement an Icelandic version of what they have designated the ‘Aylesbury Model of community brain injury rehabilitation’.

One of the major concerns of people with brain injury and their families is lack of understanding of the long-term effects of brain injury. Combined with lack of awareness of the Equality Act, people with brain injury (and many other conditions) regularly experience discrimination with a lack of reasonable adjustments that would reduce the resultant disadvantage. Our clients and relatives asked us a few years ago now if we could do more to highlight their needs. Given the professional responsibility of health practitioners ‘to raise awareness of the human rights, dignity, autonomy and needs of persons with disabilities’, I have been developing resources for health professionals (and others) to raise awareness of disability rights and reduce discrimination – see https://www.equitynotjustequality.co.uk

Reflecting on this award, the courage and resolve of people affected by brain injury has inspired me throughout my career. Working with people with brain injury, their families and friends has been a great privilege. Whilst I am no longer involved directly in service provision, the ‘Aylesbury model’ of community brain injury rehabilitation continues to evolve through the current team. Long may this continue, along with other community brain injury service provision and the vital support of Headway”.

Andy Tyerman

Honorary Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist 17 June 2024

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

‘King’s Birthday Honours 2024,

British Empire Medal was awarded

to Dr Andrew Douglas Tyerman.’

“The Community Head Injury Service is delighted to announce that Dr Andy Tyerman, who founded the service and lead it for three decades, was honoured in the King’s Birthday Honours List with a British Empire Medal for ‘Services to Rehabilitation after Acquired Brain Injury.