6. “Government uses its power to convene interested parties and establish a single research fund that will coordinate and fund research. Government also incentivise sport and other groups to contribute to this fund by offering a degree of match-funding.”
The Government agrees with the intention behind this recommendation of simplifying access to research funding. However, we do not believe it is necessary to establish a single fund for research into concussion in sport, as there are already medical research funds available.
The Government will, however, convene a “sports concussion research forum” to collectively identify common research goals and priorities across the sector, and to share research findings. We believe this will simplify the routes for accessing research funding, as well as ensuring research is focussed on the most pressing areas of investigative need.
7. “Government convene its own specialist group on concussion, drawing on campaign groups, relevant scientific expertise and sporting institutes to assess, every four years, the emerging science on this issue.”
The Government agrees with this recommendation and will task the “sports concussion research forum” to undertake this role, and define its full brief and reporting timeframe.
8. “Government looks to the Scottish model and then work with the devolved Governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to develop, in the next 12 months, a UK protocol for concussion across all sport. This protocol should be refreshed every two years.“
The Government agrees with this recommendation. The Sports Ministers of the four home nations have discussed this proposal and agreed in principle to develop a shared set of protocols, common across all four nations based on the Scotland model.
This work will involve the five UK sports councils, as well as representatives of sports and the medical profession. The Sport and Recreation Alliance will be commissioned to lead this work and appoint a working group to coordinate the development of the protocols.
It is expected that this work will start before the end of 2021 and be completed by the end of 2022.
9. “(once the protocol is in place) Government deliver a comprehensive communications campaign to ensure that everyone involved in sport, from the athletes to coaches and doctors, is aware of best practice.”
The Government agrees with this recommendation, and will task the working group involved in the development of the protocols to develop a communications campaign to ensure participants at all levels of sport are aware of the key messages around concussion.
10. “Urge the Government to grasp the nettle this time, move past the concerns about how regulation may change sports, and take real and effective action.
11. It should be expected that participants are aware of the risks involved and that there is a precautionary approach to risk management. The Government cannot avoid taking a proactive role in ensuring that this occurs.”
The Government agrees with these recommendations. The actions set out in this report demonstrate the level of ambition held by this Government to ensure sport is as safe as possible for all participants. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport intends to provide updates on progress with its concussion in sport initiatives through its Government Sport Strategy annual report.