Traumatic Limb Loss and the Needs of the Family

Blesma recently teamed with Anglia Ruskin University to explore impact of traumatic limb loss on families. The study looked into what measures can be made to improve the rehabilitative outcomes through working with families.

Barry LeGrys, Blesma Chief Executive added: "Blesma has always attended to the families of its Members (the limbless veterans). We appreciate the benefits of a holistic approach to support and the value of family cohesion. However, while attentive to obvious distress and always practical in approach, we have gathered little hard evidence on the deeper needs of the family as a whole and how our support might be more effective, especially in the longer term; Blesma is there for life not only while a case file is open.

This is why we commissioned the Veterans and Families Institute at Anglia Ruskin University to undertake an extensive review of the literature to consider what research and evidence has been undertaken into the impacts of traumatic limb loss on the family. This review concludes that no one else in the UK has been deliberately accruing evidence either. The most recent report of the House of Commons Defence Committee expresses a similar opinion. We aim for this valuable piece of work to be a catalyst for Government and the Service charities to collaboratively improve understanding of the family needs surrounding those severely injured in the service of their country." 

The study concluded that although in the UK we are able to manage the medical and rehabilitative needs of injured personnel more must be done to ensure the families are better supported in the rehabilitation of loved ones. The study has drawn up a range of suggestions to policy makers. 

A downloadable version of the report can be found here