'How I help people recover from life-changing brain injuries'

STV News

7 hours ago

A Lanarkshire health professional has been awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours List 2025 in recognition of her exceptional contribution to brain injury rehabilitation.
Jane-Marie Stobie, a leading Allied Health Professions (AHP) consultant, is the clinical lead for NHS Lanarkshire's Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service.
She oversees a 'pioneering, seamless' care model that supports patients from inpatient treatment at the Briar Centre in Stonehouse through to community and vocational rehabilitation in Hamilton.
Jane-Marie describes the accolade as the proudest achievement in her career since joining the NHS in 1989.
She told STV News: 'I was very surprised – it was unexpected. I'm humbled by receiving it.
'It proves the recognition that the service model and clinical delivery works – and it works exceptionally well.'
After qualifying as an occupational therapist in 1989, Jane-Marie joined NHS Lanarkshire in 1997.
She played a pivotal role in establishing the region's first specialist community brain injury rehab service in 2012.
Since then, she has driven the development of the Briar Centre, which opened in November 2023 and features ten inpatient beds, therapy suites and a therapeutic garden – creating an AHP-led model unique in Scotland.
'Every brain injury is different. I always say, 'once you've seen one brain injury, you've only seen one'.
'There are different types of difficulties – physical, cognitive, behavioural. It's a really interesting, complex area of work as you need to think outside the box.
'That's what attracted me to it in the first place. I believed I could make a change in how those services were delivered for people.'
Jane-Marie and her team realised early on that many brain injury patients in Lanarkshire were 'slipping through the net.' NHS Lanarkshire Jane-Marie Stobie and the team at the Briar Centre
'Rather than building or setting up a ward, we took a whole new approach, delivering rehabilitation in community settings where people live, work, and learn,' she said. 'And it's grown from there.'
The Briar Centre now supports around 250 patients annually, providing tailored therapy focused on patient goals, from simple daily tasks to returning to work. The multidisciplinary team includes occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, neuropsychologists, dietitians, and medical staff.
Patients practice skills such as cooking, driving, and communication, and can attend a vocational assessment and rehabilitation lab to determine their readiness for work.
The team collaborates closely with third-sector organisations, social services, and leisure groups, ensuring a holistic approach that continues when patients leave the centre.
Jane-Marie said: 'Patients come in for inpatient care, then rehab is continued in the community – it's a single team throughout the whole journey.
'We aim for a really flexible and seamless transition out into the community, whether it's getting them a care package or working with their employer to make adjustments for their return to work.
'We set goals around what the patient wants. That's something you wouldn't necessarily get from a purely medical model.'
One memorable patient was a construction worker who suffered a brain injury following a fall from a cherry picker.
For his last therapy session, he requested it take place on the lift, helping him come to terms with the trauma.
'That last session was real closure for him – he was returning to do office work but wanted to go back to where it happened.
'We meet patients where they need to be seen – sometimes even at their workplace – so rehab feels meaningful and relevant to them.'
Another inspiring story is of an 18-year-old woman severely injured after being hit by a car on her way to work as a nursery nurse. Upon arrival at the Briar Centre, she faced physical and cognitive challenges, including right-side weakness and memory difficulties.
Over five weeks of inpatient and a further year of rehab, she relearned daily tasks, including curling her hair, an important part of her identity.
'She was a hoot while she was here. It was so lovely to have a younger person in, playing her music and bringing in glittery decorations to make the room her home,' Jane-Marie said.
After months of intensive therapy, the young woman made remarkable progress and was recently promoted to team leader at her nursery.
'We're really proud of her – she's an absolute powerhouse and was determined to make a good recovery.'
Recovery can be difficult and slow.
A Lanarkshire dad who suffered a brain injury after an unprovoked attack faced struggles with planning, decision-making, and concentration.
Referred for rehab months after the incident, he had lost his job, home, and marriage.
With the team's support, he worked on cognitive strategies and now has his own flat where his daughter lives with him and is training his dog to be a therapy pet.
Jane-Marie said: 'He's currently working hard to return to paid employment in the future – he has come such a long way.'
Jane-Marie said hearing about the success of those moving into the next chapter of their lives is one of the favourite parts of her job.
'We have a lot of thank you letters and cards from those we've supported and their families, but as time goes on, they put distance between themselves and the brain injury.
'Eventually, we sink into the past, which is exactly how it should be, and that means you've done that right.
'Saying goodbye after months of care can be emotional for everyone.
'People don't normally cry when they are finally leaving the hospital… But there you go,' she joked. NHS Lanarkshire The Briar Centre has been honoured with the prestigious Special Recognition Award at the 2024 Staff Awards.
The service's innovative approach earned the Briar Centre a Special Recognition Award at NHS Lanarkshire's Staff Awards in 2024.
It also recently received a royal visit from Princess Anne, who praised the centre's leading role in brain injury rehabilitation.
Jane-Marie expressed gratitude for her team and the broader support behind the service.
'It's such a pleasure to receive recognition for the work I've done and the amazing team involved. A lot of people have helped deliver this.
'When we started this service in 2012, it was a big leap of faith. The board trusted me and went along with it.
'This honour reflects the strength of teamwork across services and the importance of continually striving to improve care.'
Looking ahead, Jane-Marie hopes to see their groundbreaking care model rolled out more widely across Scotland and beyond.
'I'd like to see this type of seamless therapy model, where it's delivered right from admission, through discharge, back into the community and the workplace – extended across Scotland. Not just for brain injury, but for other complex neurological and vascular conditions.
'The Allied Health Professional-led model is non-traditional and may be an uncomfortable model for some, but as long as it's being led by the right people with the right qualifications, I'd like to see it more.
'It gets more difficult everywhere to recruit, and we have to look at alternative ways of doing things. Hopefully, that will be the legacy of this service.'
Louise Long MBE, chief executive of NHS Lanarkshire, said: 'Jane-Marie's compassion and innovation have transformed brain injury rehab in Lanarkshire. Her MBE is richly deserved.'
Professor Soumen Sengupta, chief officer of South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership, added: 'Jane-Marie's dedication has made a profound impact on patients, families, and colleagues alike. She has set an important example for others to follow.'
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