BARC: a stronger voice for rehab?
Some of the loudest players in the rehabilitation sector congregated at Westminster to launch a new consultative industry body, the British Association of Rehabilitation Companies (BARC).
David Drew, Chairman of BARC, and founding member Deborah Edwards, Rehabilitation Services Director at Argent Rehabilitation, believe the body will a linchpin in the fight to get insurers to specify rehabilitation in a claims process as standard, regardless of fault. 
Douglas Carswell MP, who hosted the event in the House of Commons, said he intends to help raise the profile of the work achieved by private rehabilitation providers. “I will certainly be taking your best practice and opinions to Government and the insurance companies, to help show how they are lifting a great deal of pressure off the NHS in getting people back to work and back to health,” he said.
Tim Ablett, independent non-executive at FirstAssist, Equity Insurance Brokers and Premier Occupational Healthcare, added that BARC aims to represent the commercial and non-clinical interests of UK Rehabilitation Providers to Parliament and the insurance sector through active and regular engagement of members.
Norman Cottingham, founding member of BARC and President of The Injury Care Clinics (TICCS), said: “Rehab has been around for over 15 years but it’s still a new industry in real need of a strong voice to protect the interests of the sector and to promote the benefits of rehabilitation – particularly to insurers.”
Carol Chantler, Medical Relationship Manager at DWF Solicitors and Chair of CMSUK, asked if BARC will also consider the needs of service providers when creating codes of conduct and standards for members.
“BARC will of course play a consultative voice to service providers and other industry groups to get clear stakeholder representation to their boards. This is especially relevant for the upcoming UK Rehabilitation Council (UKRC) launch and its own Codes of Conduct for the sector.
“We will also campaign to get the message across to the ABI that rehab does get people back to work quicker, reduces costs for the NHS and insurers, and should be adopted into insurers’ claims process from day one,” Norman said.
“Giving confidence to purchasers of rehab services is of course another key role of the BARC,” added David.
Tim called for members to take advantage of networking events for informal discussion and exchange, and to make the most of the direct line to Parliament by bringing forward best practice casework and clear agendas for change.
Corporate BARC members will have full membership and voting rights, be strategic decision makers within the organisation, and eligible to be elected to the BARC Council. Sole practitioners are eligible as associate members with no voting rights.
For further information on BARC and for membership details, visit www.thebarc.co.uk.