A response to “A preventable death? A family’s perspective on an adult safeguarding review regarding an adult with traumatic brain injury”

Abstract

Purpose

To reflect on the particular case from a professional’s perspective to provide, in conjunction with the original article, a more holistic overview of some of its implications for safeguarding practice and, by definition, for the provision of health and social care support services to individuals with a traumatic brain injury and their families. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

A response to an already published article.

Findings

That a lack of “professional curiosity” on the part of practitioners across a range of professions and agencies led to a failure to initiate safeguarding processes and procedures appropriately, resulting in avoidable damage to the subject of the article, the author’s partner and their families.

Practical implications

There is a need for a greater awareness and understanding of the implications of traumatic brain injuries across health and social care services: that hospital discharge planning and community support services need to be more flexible in identifying and meeting the needs of patients with traumatic brain injury, that there is no substitute for “professional curiosity” in ensuring that assessments are holistic, and that services are appropriate and multi-agency working is effective.

Originality/value

This is a response to an existing publication.

Citation

Morgan, P. (2017), "A response to “A preventable death? A family’s perspective on an adult safeguarding review regarding an adult with traumatic brain injury”", The Journal of Adult Protection, Vol. 19 No. 1, pp. 4-9. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-01-2017-0002