InView Autumn/Winter 2015

Issue 2 | Autumn/Winter 2015
21
Victoria Coleman believes compensators remain unaware
of the revolution in telecare – it’s time for compensators to
inspire handlers to take a more “techno savvy” approach.
Most compensators are aware of advanced prosthetics such as
running blades that enable parathletes to achieve spectacular
sporting success and, also, the new generation of bionic limbs and
robotic exoskeletons which enable the paralysed to stand and walk.
Likewise, no one will have missed the recent award to a below knee
amputee of £4.5 million including £2.15 million for prosthetics.
Compensators are also generally aware of advances in neurological
science enabling spinal cord regeneration. However, there is a
quieter revolution which compensators are less aware of – the
revolution in telecare.
So, where does technology have the biggest impact on catastrophic
injury claims? Weightmans’ large loss database showed in
January 2015 that less than 1% of claims were spinal injuries
and less than 1% involved amputations. Whilst these claims are
expensive, they represent a small proportion of compensators’
outlay. Compensators’ biggest outlay is on brain injuries, 50% of
Weightmans’ catastrophic claims portfolio are brain injuries and
the majority of these are moderate injuries to include the walking
wounded, often having issues around cognition, forgetfulness,
executive function and confidence. Support worker regimes are
costed to prompt, remind, enable the claimant and so on, often many
decades into the future.
Forward thinking compensators are looking to see their outlay
reduce through innovative use of emerging telecare technology
– software applications/systems that enable regular and effective
interaction with individuals so that they feel fully supported. One
example is “Brain in Hand” which is a sophisticated, yet simple,
smartphone app that allows users to develop pre-programmed
responses to everyday issues so that they can deal with all manner
of potential problems in advance. “Guide” (General User Interface
for Disorders of Execution) is another example of progressive
technology which is an interactive tool that simulates normal verbal
prompting in a way that allows the claimant to interact with it
conversationally, as with a carer. These can be coupled with fitting
of sensors and a range of electronic controls around the claimant’s
home as an independent yet safe living environment.
So, gone are the days of needing a support worker because the
claimant might forget to take tablets, let the bath overflow, not know
what to do if he locks himself out or a stranger knocks unexpectedly.
Needless to say an assistive device, even the most advanced, can’t
substitute the assistance provided by a human carer, but it can give
the claimant a sense of independence, privacy and confidence,
relieving the need for the caregiver to be a continuous presence.
Compensators should just:
The impetus for changing how we deal with care in these cases is clear:
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the cost to compensators is enormous and ever increasing; and
in many cases, such packages are not in the claimant’s best
interests either, serving only to undermine the claimant’s
confidence and increase his/her dependency.
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educate the field of care experts as to what is available and how
it can be used in practice and best be developed; and
inspire handlers to approach long term care for the brain
injured with a techno savvy approach, delivering the best
outcome for the claimant in a way that is the most cost effective
for the compensator.
Why can we expect change now? The country faces a demographic
challenge. We live in an ageing population. According to the Office
for National Statistics (“ONS”), from 2012 to 2032 we can expect to
see the population of 65-84 year olds increase by 37% and the over
85’s to increase by 106%. As people age they develop a multitude of
conditions requiring care to include dementia, strokes and so on. It is
projected that the number of people in England with long term care
needs will rise by 60% in the next 20 years. So there has been multimillion
pound investment in the adult social care sector, specifically
aimed at keeping people living at home for longer.
Victoria Coleman, Partner
0151 242 7991
victoria.coleman@weightmans.com
Suspend your disbelief, says Victoria Coleman: Who would have
imagined even a decade ago that we would be travelling by satnav,
skyping, using apps for learning, banking and shopping online?