Sir Chris, who has represented the Rhondda constituency in Wales since 2001, has been a tireless champion for people affected by brain injury, working closely with Headway and other brain injury charities to increase awareness in parliament and introduce meaningful change in the way government departments support survivors and carers.
Since 2017, Chris has chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Acquired Brain Injury, leading to numerous debates in parliament and raising the profile of brain injury.
His determination to ensure debate leads to change led to Sir Chris introducing a Private Members’ Bill requiring the government to develop a cross-departmental strategy to address the needs of brain injury survivors and carers.
Despite the rarity of Private Members’ Bills becoming Acts of Parliament, Sir Chris’s tenacity resulted in then Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreeing to the development of a strategy without the need for a vote on the Private Members’ Bill.
Speaking at the Headway Annual Awards in December where he accepted a Special Award for Improving Life After Brain Injury, Sir Chris said that he hoped the strategy would be completed by the middle of this year.
Luke Griggs, Chief Executive of Headway, said: “Over the years, Headway has developed important relationships with politicians willing to champion the causes of those affected by brain injury.
“However, you would be hard-pressed to find many politicians that are more committed and passionate about brain injury than Sir Chris.
“He has united campaigners and charities, reinvigorating combined efforts to instigate policy change across all areas of government, with that change now tantalisingly close.
“On behalf of everyone associated with Headway, I offer our heartfelt congratulations to Sir Chris on his well-deserved honour.”
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