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Acquired Brain Injury Service for South Cheshire

About Us

The Team:
Dr Gavin Newby - Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist
Gavin has over 15 years of experience in working with adults who have suffered an acquired brain injury.  His experience has included working with clients in hospitals, residential homes and those living in their own homes.  An important part of Gavin's job is working with clients, their families and the professionals and carers that help them, to find out how the brain injury has affected them and how to get round these difficulties.  Gavin has a specific interest in working with families affected by brain injury and has a particular expertise in advising on driving after an acquired brain injury.

Dr Stephen Weatherhead - Clinical Psychologist
Stephen joined the team on a permanent basis in December 2008, and was involved with the service before qualifying as a psychologist. His main role is to provide psychological therapy for clients based on how their thinking skills, emotions and personality have changed after a brain injury. This can involve working with them individually, with their partner, carer, children, or their whole family. Stephen is particularly interested in parenting after a brain injury, and working with families. He has an ongoing research role with the team aimed at improving the service’s clinical practice.


Beth Fisher – Service Manager
Beth has worked with neurological disorders and head injury patients for over 20 years.  She qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist and has worked in hospitals, rehabilitation units and in the community both as a clinician and service manager.  She places clients and families' needs at the centre of service delivery and design.

Bernie Walsh – Specialist Occupational Therapist in Vocational Rehabilitation
Bernie is an experienced Occupational Therapist who has worked with people with brain injuries for a number of years - both in rehabilitation units and in the community.  Her role within the team is Vocational Rehabilitation.  She assists people with their return to work, college, voluntary work, leisure activities or managing their day-to-day activities at home.

Anne Mansfield - Secretary
If you need to contact us, it us best to telephone Monday - Thursday AM when Anne is in the office.   She will be your main point of contact as other team members tend to be out of the office.  Messages left on our answer phone are picked up daily during the working week.

We Provide:
Neuropsychological Assessment
Vocational Rehabilitation
Case Management
Carer Support

We have an open referral system and accept referrals from all Health and Social Services professionals across South Cheshire, covering Western Cheshire & Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trusts. 

Referral Criteria:

People who have suffered an ABI as an adult - i.e. over 18 years.  In exceptional cases we may see slightly younger patients if it is felt that we could provide an appropriate service.  The younger age groups needs are met by paediatric and learning disability services.

There is no upper age limit, but we would expect to concentrate more on patients of working age where service provision is limited, in comparison with specialist services for the elderly.

Client Group:

1. Head Injury (Traumatic Brain Injury)
2. Anoxic Brain Damage
3. Brain Infections - e.g. Herpes Encephalitis
4. Sub Arachnoid Haemorrhage
5. Toxic Conditions Affecting Brain Function
6. Brain Tumours (Medically Stable)
7. Stroke clients with vocational needs and 
    associated neuropsychological needs

The service will NOT accept referrals where the brain injury results from Progressive Illness; MS, AIDS, CJD, Dementia, Congenital Disorders, Stroke or where there is ongoing severe substance abuse.

Contact Details:

ABI Service
Acorn Suite
1829 Building
Countess of Chester Health Park
Liverpool Road
Chester CH2 1HJ

Tel: 01244 389252 (24hour answer machine if staff unavavilable to take your call.)
Fax: 01244 389255