F e a t u r e s
called into a discharge meeting from HC and eventual discharge from the RAF.
The help and support provided both by the Encephalitis Society and SSAFA at this point was invaluable. The society recommended that I request a second opinion for Gerry and that I insist that no medical discharge take place without a detailed discharge plan; SSAFA attended the meeting with me and successfully argued many points on my behalf. On the basis of the evidence provided I was granted a second opinion.
We returned to the quarters in the UK in June 2008, but at that point had no hot water, central heating or washing machine. His discharge coincided with the return of our storage furniture, but over half of our belongings were missing and most of the remaining furniture damaged. Gerry’s illness quickly escalated out of control requiring emergency admission to the John Radcliffe Hospital.
The second opinion was brought forward and Gerry was seen on 23rd June. Finally Gerald was found to still be suffering a very rare
form of auto-immune Encephalitis. The brain inflammation is caused by the body’s own antibodies to start acting wildly and attack the brain. Nobody knows why this happens but specific treatment exists. The treatment needed to commence in earnest, to avoid permanent brain damage.
Unbeknown to us all, Gerry had been living with an inflamed brain for months, with the treatment previously offered simply providing temporary relief. He started specific treatment and responded successfully. He needed to be discharged from the acute hospital setting but could not go home or back to Headley Court as he was still too ill. HC offered a solution. They would ask the Brain Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT) Unit in Horsham for a placement.
Whilst waiting to be admitted at BIRT, Gerry encountered a powerful reaction to one of the drugs he has been given caused him to develop Hypomania, a condition where your mind and body are in constant activity mode and rest becomes impossible. The condition requires hospital admission so, on August 1st Gerry was
sent to the Priory Hospital in Roehampton, where he mingled briefly with the rich and famous. After three weeks which saw the drug gently withdrawn, Gerry was finally admitted to BIRT in August.
The time at BIRT was one of the saddest, most difficult times the family had to face, lightened only by the support offered by SSAFA and Gerry’s local unit; but luckily a time that Gerry will never remember.
After such a shock, his brain was finally healing and furnished him with a powerful defence mechanism: post traumatic amnesia. After just over 2 months at BIRT, Gerry was finally returned home and was well enough to attend a work trial at Brize Norton.
Gerry has now been working at Brize for over two months and his recovery is continuing. There are many obstacles still to overcome and the road to full fitness is steep, but thanks to the continuous support, the future looks a little brighter. This story is dedicated to all Service personnel and their families affected by a brain injury.
Children’s Education Advisory Service Continuity of Education Allowance (Board)
With effect from September 2008 there has been a change to the process for claiming CEA (Board). All new claims for CEA (Board) must adhere to these new procedures.
The CEA application form has been revised and is now the CEA Eligibility Certificate. This form must be used for all claims with immediate effect. The form can only be obtained by calling the CEAS office.
Maintaining Continuity
The aim of continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) is to assist Service personnel to achieve continuity of education for their child(ren) that would otherwise be denied in the maintained day school sector if their child(ren) accompanied them on frequent assign- ments both at home and overseas.
Family Mobility
Acceptance of accompanied service and hence family mobility is inherent in claim- ing CEA. An exception to this requirement is those Service personnel classified as Involuntarily Separated (INVOLSEP). Advice on this can be sought from CEAS.
10 Summer 2009 First Steps:
Claimants must contact CEAS to obtain the new CEA Eligibility Certificate. CEAS can offer advice about boarding education and a briefing pack will be sent with a numbered CEA Eligibility Certificate. The claimant then completes the form including details of their home addresses for their last four assignments. The form is returned to CEAS with let- ter from the chosen school offering the child a place.
Establishing Eligibility
If the Eligibility Certificate shows the Service person as having remained at the same address for their last 4 as-
signments, then CEAS will inform the individual’s Commanding Officer who will be required to conduct a review of entitlement.
Further Help
Further information can be found in DIN 2008DIN01-191: Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) – Change to regulations JSP 752 Ch 9. If you have any worries about CEA or any other matter regarding the education of your children, please contact CEAS for information and advice.
www.ceas.mod.uk , e-mail
enquiries@ceas.detsa.co.uk, helpline 01980 618244.
www.raf-families-federation.org.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48