Spinal Injuries Association has today delivered a petition to 10 Downing Street calling on the Prime Minister to end the postcode lottery in spinal injury care. A new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) reveals that thousands of people who sustain spinal cord injuries in the UK face a system where recovery depends on chance, not national standards—leading to devastating physical and mental health consequences.
Every two hours in the UK, someone’s life changes forever due to spinal cord injury. These injuries often result in lifelong paralysis, chronic pain, and loss of bladder, bowel, and sexual function. Yet, according to the charity, only 1 in 5 patients receives specialist rehabilitation at a spinal centre, leaving the majority without adequate support. Many cannot return home due to inaccessible housing, lack of specialist expertise in their community, and a complete absence of mental health provision—65% report serious mental health struggles*.
The APPG report, backed by consultants, healthcare professionals across almost every NHS Trust, seven of the eight Spinal Cord Injury Centres, the Royal College of Nursing, partner charities, and Parliamentarians from both Houses, calls for urgent national standards to replace the current fragmented system.
A System Failing Patients
Andy McDonald MP, Chair of the APPG for Spinal Cord Injury, said:
“I’ve heard from clinicians, researchers, charities, and—most importantly—people living with SCI. Their message is clear: the system is failing them. What should be a pathway of recovery has become a maze of delay, fragmentation, and inequality. This is not just a healthcare issue. It is a question of dignity, equality, and national leadership.”
One Spinal Injuries Association member added:
“Specialist spinal services are a non-negotiable part of recovery. Without them, the consequences are devastating.”
The inquiry uncovered shocking cases, including Danny Byrne, who was left on a hard trolley in A&E for over eleven hours and developed a Grade 4 pressure ulcer, resulting in five months of bedrest due to unsuitable care.
Why This Matters
Spinal Injuries Association warns this is not just about improving outcomes for SCI patients—it sets a precedent for how the UK treats long-term neurological and complex conditions such as stroke, brain injury, MS, and MND, all of which suffer from similar fragmentation.
“These failures reflect a reluctance to invest in long-term, preventative care,” said a spokesperson for the charity. “Yet the moral and economic case for reform is overwhelming: coordinated SCI care reduces hospital readmissions, lowers lifetime public sector costs, and allows people to live independent, fulfilled lives.”
Cultural Spotlight
The issue has recently gained public attention after ITV’s Coronation Street highlighted the impact of spinal cord injury when long-standing character Tyrone Dobbs was involved in a hit-and-run accident.
