A CUMBRIAN brain injury centre has warned of a “tidal wave” of treatment needs with the easing of lockdown measures.

Professionals at the Keswick-based rehabilitation centre Calvert Reconnections say the coronavirus has brought rehabilitation to a “crisis point” but they have also hailed the return of face-to-face treatment as a step in the right direction.

The centre had done research which indicates that 89 per cent of brain specialists believes there will be a “tidal wave” in need for treatment post Covid-19.

Heather Batey, trustee at The Lake District Calvert Trust, said: “While brain injury rehabilitation has been driven to crisis point by Covid-19 there are now positive signs with face-to-face clinical contact returning.

“The future is looking brighter but we need to ensure best practice continues throughout this pandemic.”

Dr Amy Burns, clinical lead at the centre, said: “As the lockdown eases, brain injury case managers are looking beyond virtual rehabilitation.

“There is considerable support from medical research for the notion that outdoor activity is beneficial to brain injury rehabilitation.”

As part of the research the centre asked brain injury specialists across the country when they feel they would be able to refer patients to residential programmes.

About 10 per cent said they were now making referrals, 70 per cent said in one to three months, 15 per cent said three to six months and five per cent said six to 12 months.

The centre received 152 responses from experts across the country.

Calvert Reconnections has developed the UK’s first Covid-19 compliant brain injury rehabilitation programme combining clinical therapies with physical activity in the outdoors.

The Lake District, Calvert Reconnections, is run by the Lake District Calvert Trust.

It is a brand new neuro-rehabilitation residential centre providing treatment programmes for those with brain injury.