There was a big attendance for Headway Suffolk’s fourth annual Neuro Conference at Kesgrave Conference Centre near Ipswich.

East Anglian Daily Times: There were six expert speakers at the Headway Suffolk Neuro Conference 2018 at Kesgrave near IpswichThere were six expert speakers at the Headway Suffolk Neuro Conference 2018 at Kesgrave near Ipswich (Image: Archant)

The 250 delegates, made up of healthcare professionals, solicitors and service users, had a full day of insightful talks from six distinguished speakers across a range of subjects related to brain injury and neurology.

Professor the Lord Robert Winston, an internationally-renowned scientist and health expert, had guests captivated with his intriguing talk about the child’s brain and how the human mind works, with his imitable presenting style.

Patron of Headway Suffolk, Dr Jane Hawking, returned for her second successive conference and spoke about changing attitudes to disability, from when she cared for her first husband, famed scientist Professor Stephen Hawking during the 1960-1980s, and how they are now.

She also expressed her delight at the charity naming its planned, new 24-bedded housing and rehabilitation hub in Ipswich, The Stephen Hawking Neuro Centre.

East Anglian Daily Times: There were six expert speakers at the Headway Suffolk Neuro Conference 2018 at Kesgrave near IpswichThere were six expert speakers at the Headway Suffolk Neuro Conference 2018 at Kesgrave near Ipswich (Image: Archant)

There were also informative talks from Dr Sajid Alam, a consultant in stroke medicine at Ipswich Hospital, on how self-help can help to prevent strokes; Dr Charlotte Brierely, a consultant neurologist at West Suffolk Hospital, on the variants of headaches and migraines; and Dr Hilda Hayo, the Chief Admiral Nurse and CEO of Dementia UK, on early-onset dementia and its link to head injury.

Andy Pearson, a brain injury survivor from Suffolk who was Headway UK’s Achiever of the Year in 2012, gave a moving presentation on his road to recovery since his cycling accident in 2008, and how he has adapted his life and employment to embrace the new challenges.

Helen Fairweather, chief executive of Headway Suffolk, updated the conference about the many hub and outdoor activities that take place to enable rehabilitation and therapy. She also spoke about the ambitious plans for a new hub and housing centre in Ipswich, and a new hub in Bury St Edmunds as part of St Edmundsbury’s Western Way Development, as well as working with Headway Norfolk to improve services available in the Waveney area.

Hannah Clarke, partner at main event sponsor Ashtons Legal, gave a presentation on civil claims and the dangers of getting it wrong.