WEST Devon's only specialist brain injury centre is threatened with possible closure. Headway Devon opened its Halwill Junction clinic last September, hoping to serve an area that will eventually stretch from Hatherleigh and Okehampton down to Tavistock. The charity runs six rehabilitation centres for people with brain injuries received in accidents as well as those who have suffered a stroke. Staffed by highly-trained specialists, it is currently open one day a week, offering a regular day of therapies and activities aimed at improving speech, fine motor skills, concentration, and personal confidence. Clients also enjoy the Monday clinic as a chance to meet and share experiences with others in similar situations. The centre has seven clients on its books, funded by Devon County Council. But it will be unable to remain open after April unless either the county council or Devon Primary Care Trust agrees to fund a minimum of 12 clients. The centre receives no funding from Devon Primary Care Trust, and has managed to remain open only thanks to start-up funding from the National Lottery. Its specialised services cost £40 for each client to visit one day a week, whereas the cost of sending Dorothy or Gillian to a normal day centre would be just £15 a day. Dorothy Williams, 78, has been going to the centre since it opened. 'I look forward to this once a week like going to the pictures,' she said. 'I don't know where else I'd go. Here we all understand each other. We all have similar problems.' Another client, Gillian Heywood, said: 'We're all in the same boat here. We can all give each other extra help.' Diane Lloyd, 65, has been to several day centres since suffering her stroke. There she felt she was surrounded by very eldery women to whom she was unable to talk, and staff who were not able properly to understand her condition. 'The staff here are all trained so they understand us.When I go home I feel content. I feel like I've done something to make my brain work.' Eileen Baker has been visiting the centre for three months. Before that, she had not been able to speak for five years, due to severe ephasia — now, with expert help and much peer support she is beginning to communicate again. There is anger among such clients that the centre's future is in danger. Jean Lewens, 85, said: 'I was in the Wrens during the war so I think I deserve help now. 'Before the stroke I used to be able to work my video — now I can't. I get very depressed and frustrated but I find this helps.' Chief executive of Headway Devon Anne Mattock said 'We're being told by clients they are being persuaded to go to a day centre in Holsworthy.' And even when the county council has agreed to send people to the centre, it has been taking up to 16 weeks to reach that decision — far too long for both the patients and the centre, which is now surviving from week to week. Anne Mattock said the cost of the service was inevitably higher because of the amount of training staff receive and the cost of delivering that expertise in a rural area to a small number of people. Manager of the clinic Roger Costello said recovery from brain injury was a slow process: 'Physical improvement comes quite quickly but all the cognitive stuff takes time. It's not an overnight fix but with long term care, you can get real results. 'It doesn't matter how old you are, you still need a specialist service. All these ladies want is to be as independent as possible.' If the centre closes, its younger clients will be left with no real alternative. The youngest is 27. Because he wants to be avoid being judged on the basis of his brain injury, he preferred to remain anonymous, but said: 'Headway Devon's not just for old people. I suffered a head injury and they've done a great deal for me. I've come on in leaps and bounds and can go out and socialise again.' Glen Hammond, 34, suffered a brain injury during a car accident. Headway Devon has been helping him to cope with the consequent depression and mood swings. He views the specialised services at Halwill Junction as irreplaceable: 'You wouldn't send someone with a broken arm to a foot clinic.' The centre also runs a crucial role in supporting carers. Roger Costello says he spends much of his time talking to carers and giving them advice. And unlike many specialist centres, it runs on an open referral basis so that a client can be recommended by a carer, friend or colleague, as well as by their GP. Around 250 cases of brain injury are seen every month at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. Roger Costello said the clinic at Halwill Junction may be West Devon's one chance to keep a specialist service to deal with the problem in the area: 'If this opportunity is lost, we may not see another brain specialist unit here for a long time.' A representative for Devon County Council said: 'Headway Devon provide an excellent service and one that we are very pleased to support. 'There's no wish on our part to take business away from them, and we'll continue to refer people after our assessments, which are based on the Government's Fair Access to Care criteria, who we feel will most benefit from their service.' For more information about Headway Devon and its work, call 01392 211822.