THE mother of another brain injury victim is backing the Gavey family in their battle to secure funding for their son’s rehabilitation. Emma Tautscher, whose son, George Head, suffered a severe brain trauma five years ago in a car accident, believes nothing has improved in the aftercare of such patients since then.

Simone Gavey, 40, whose son, Myles, 18, almost died in a scooter crash in the Grand Bouet last month, has been told by Health and Social Services there are no funds to send her son to the UK for specialist care.

Treasury and Resources minister Lyndon Trott told Mrs Gavey, a carer for the elderly, that Health was well funded and he could not explain why it could not afford to send her son to England for specialist care.

Mrs Tautscher wants the island to get behind the Gaveys to find funding for the rehab their son desperately needs in just three weeks’ time.

‘I was in the same situation nearly five years ago that Simone is in now because my son had an accident that resulted in a brain injury.

‘He was 23 at the time,’ she said.

After being cut from his car and taken to hospital, Mr Head was flown to Bristol, where he spent three weeks in a coma.

‘He came round eventually and then he was brought back to Guernsey,’ said Mrs Tautscher.

‘He was put into the Victoria Wing for three days and then sent to the King Edward VII Hospital because there was nowhere else for him.

‘There was never any mention that he could go off the island for rehab. He was in there for four or five weeks,’ she added.

Mr Head and his family found his recovery difficult in a hospital designed for the over-55s.

‘He was allowed home for day visits, but eventually one day, just like Myles, he was sat on his bed with his bags packed,’ said the 54-year-old personal assistant.

‘He said he could not take any more and wanted to come home. Fortunately I worked only part-time and my husband worked from home so we could care for him,’ she said.

Mrs Tautscher said she was angry that the Gaveys were now facing the same situation.

‘I think it’s dreadful that five years on this lady ‘Simone’ is going through what I went through – it is horrendous,’ she said.

‘I would like to appeal to all mothers in the island for their support. Let’s get some names on a petition.

‘We have to do whatever we can to try and change the situation.

‘The same could happen to anybody at any time,’ she said.

She added that her son had battled against the odds despite setbacks.

‘I am very proud of George he is doing OK,’ she said.

‘Through sheer determination against all the odds he is doing really well.

* Almost 1,000 people signed a petition organised by Mr Gavey’s sister, Alex, at the weekend. It demands that the States pays for treatment for people like her brother.