THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH INSURERS SPONSORS INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE TREATMENT OF WHIPLASH INJURIES
( 483 words)

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is sponsoring a new training pack developed by medical staff and academics from Hope Hospital (University of Manchester), and Southampton University Hospital and an advice booklet developed by the Spinal Research Unit (University of Huddersfield). These are designed to help hospitals and other health care professionals diagnose, treat and advise people with whiplash neck injuries and associated problems. Whiplash injuries now affect around 1 in 200 people every year.

Launched today (20 January) at the Royal Society of Medicine, the training pack provides detailed guidance on best practice and how Accident and Emergency Departments can adopt it. The patient advice book illustrates for patients what steps they can take to recover as quickly as possible. The ABI sponsored training pack and advice book is being made available, free of charge, to over 250 UK Accident & Emergency departments.

Speaking at the launch Jo Dagustun, the ABI’s Head of Motor, said:

“ Whiplash can not only be painful for sufferers, it can be costly to treat. As well as putting added pressure on the NHS, motor insurance policyholders also bear the cost through their premiums. Some estimates put the insurance cost of whiplash injuries at £700 million a year. The ABI are delighted to sponsor this training pack - it should lead to improved efficiency for the NHS, and the best possible patient outcomes.
“ Insurers have a responsibility to their customers and shareholders to address this issue. This new initiative, together with the Safer Seats Initiative from the Motor Insurance Repair and Research Centre, show insurers’ determination to help prevent whiplash in the first place, and to ensure that whiplash injuries are effectively treated where they do occur. While most whiplash injuries are not serious, and sufferers rarely face permanent damage, it is clear that accurate early diagnosis and advice is crucial in reducing prolonged symptoms. This new training pack will help NHS staff deliver that crucial early diagnosis, and should help ensure that patients receive the best possible advice to aid fast recovery.”

Key factors underpinning the advice include:

- Rest for more than a couple of days after the accident does not usually help, and may prolong the pain and disability
- Degree of investigation can be safely assessed in a stepwise approach.
- Faster recovery with early return to normal pre-accident activities.
- Self-exercise, manual therapy and positive attitudes/beliefs are helpful to regain activity levels.

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Note for Editors

1 Enquiries, including requests for copies of the training pack, to:   
          Malcolm Tarling  020  7216  7410 ( mobile 07776 147667 )

2 An ISDN line is available for broadcasts.

3 The Whiplash Book is printed by the Stationery Office. Web address: www.thestationeryoffice.com contact richard.middleton@theso.co.uk

4 The British Association for Accident and Emergency Medicine aims to provide academic resources including publications and to offer a dynamic resource for disseminating and collecting new information relevant to Accident & Emergency Medicine.  Web address: www.baem.org.uk

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Copies of all ABI news releases, together with other information from the Association, can be seen on our website http://www.abi.org.uk

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