Friday 15 May 2026 marks the annual Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day which aims to spread awareness about spinal cord injury (SCI) and highlight the challenges faced by those who have suffered SCI.

Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) is a key source of information, guidance and assistance for those who have suffered spinal cord injury. SIA updated their statistics in 2025 which show that the number of people sustaining and living with injuries was far higher than previously thought. There are approximately 4,700 people who are injured or diagnosed with SCI every year which is an increase of 300 additional cases on the figures from 2024 whilst the total size of the UK SCI population remains more than 105,000.

Safeguarding SCI services

On SCI Awareness Day 2026, SIA and other SCI charities are launching a new campaign to safeguard SCI services across the UK given NHS England’s intention to transfer commissioning from national to local (ICB) level in April 2027. The specific focus is to ensure the strategy prioritises accessible rehabilitation, lifelong support for those who have suffered SCI together with adequate funding and resources.

Currently SCI services are commissioned nationally as a specialised service which should maintain a consistent standard across specialist spinal centres. However, from April 2027 such services will transfer to local ICBs (subject to parliamentary approval).

Ending the 'postcode lottery'

The concern is that transferring SCI services from national to local level could create even more of a postcode lottery for services than is currently the case. As SCI patients require specific and complex care, there should be national oversight to ensure consistent standards of care following SCI. Where local budgets are under significant pressure, there is a danger there could be reduced access to rehabilitation and even further difficulty securing the services and housing required.

Meeting the needs of patients with spinal cord injury

SIA and charity partners are campaigning to ensure the new strategy meets the actual needs of those who have suffered SCI. Doing so is critical to ensure early rehabilitation goals can be met and the life-long support required is provided as this can make a real difference in the long-term outcomes for SCI patients.

The impact of spinal cord injury

As a clinical negligence specialist solicitor, I see the devastating impact that spinal cord injury can have on individuals and their families, and of course with my focus on clinical negligence claims, I see many causes of SCI which could have been avoided

Often patients have presented to their GP or hospital with specific red flag symptoms which should have led to earlier investigation and diagnosis which could have allowed treatment to be provided before the life-changing symptoms become permanent.

Although not common it is also possible for the spinal cord to be damaged during surgery if mistakes are made, or through a failure to investigate and diagnose post-operative symptoms, such as bleeding, which can cause compression of the spinal cord and irreversible damage if not investigated and treated in time.

The impact of SCI can be profound with symptoms of paralysis, loss of lower limb sensation and weakness of the legs, chronic pain, bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction. These symptoms significantly impact daily life with specialist care being required, extensive aids and equipment and often single-storey accommodation.

Given the devastating impact of SCI, if there are delays in diagnosis, investigation and treatment or surgical causes for the injury, specialist advice is required to consider whether alternative treatment could have avoided the nerve damage.

SCI support network

Having the right support network is vital and organisations such as the SIA and the Cauda Equina Champions Charity offer invaluable support and guidance to those who have suffered SCI. The organisations can also signpost patients to trusted solicitors, to investigate and advise in terms of any concerning aspects of treatment provided.

We’re proud to support Spinal Cord Injury Awareness day and continue to be a trusted partner of SIA to continue to raise standards in healthcare for SCI through advocacy and education. We hope, as awareness is raised, the failure to act on and investigate red flag symptoms will be less common, leading to earlier diagnosis and improved outcomes for patients.