Blesma News
Latest news from Blesma, The Limbless Veterans
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Routine Commissioning for Microprocessor knees
5 December 2016
NHS England have joined their Scottish and Irish counterparts in routinely providing micro-processor knees for those NHS patients who meet the criteria. Blesma has been associated with this policy decision from the early stages as part of the Prosthetic Sub Group of the Clinical Reference Group for Complex disability Equipment. Blesma Support Officer for Prosthetics, Brian Chenier, says: “Blesma has joined with others representing the limb loss community in England as many of our Members are living with limb loss for reasons not directly related to their military service. We a
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Families Project
18 November 2016
Blesma’s main concern is always to meet the needs of its Members, but we know from our detailed work over the years that living with limb loss greatly affects Members’ families, too. You may be surprised to hear that in the UK there is no research into the impact on the families of veterans living with limb loss. But we do know from international research that the active participation of families in the recovery process of people with injuries or health conditions leads to real improvements in their lives. Blesma is working with the Veterans and Families Inst
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Harry Parker Tells His Story
9 November 2016
It was on July 2009, when Harry Parker was returning from a night patrol with some 50 men, that he made a mistake – deciding to take a line of soldiers on a short cut through a field rather than follow the longer path. ‘It was only my arrogance as a soldier to walk across that field, because it was this close to camp, and I thought, right, I’ll take a risk here rather than minesweeping it.’ Of the moments surrounding his stepping on the IED, he says; “I never quite knew the full story because obviously I was eyes shut, grit
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Blesma Community Programme 2017
24 October 2016
Learn more about the 2016 intake and find out how you can get involved, whether you are a Blesma Member or a school... In 2016, Blesma commissioned and worked alongside The Drive Project who designed and delivered the pilot of the Blesma Community Programme (BCP). The BCP takes Blesma Members who have battled and overcome adversity and helps them to develop a skill set that allows them to deliver their story in a professional and engaging way. The programme is taught by theatre industry professionals over a 5-day course. Once equipped with these s
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