Who Should Look After Head Injuries? Training Issues in District General Hospitals

Head injury is one of the most common reasons for presentation to accident and emergency (A&E) departments in the UK, with one million patients presenting annually. The death rate from head injury is 9 in 100,000 per year, which accounts for 1% of all deaths and 15–20% of deaths of those aged between 5 and 35 years. Head injuries may have significant behavioural, cognitive and emotional effects, with even minor head injuries potentially resulting in significant morbidity. Three months after a minor head injury, 79% of those injured suffer persistent headaches, 59% complain of memory problems and 34% of previously employed patients will remain unemployed.