Head injury accounts for approximately
one million patient attendances at
emergency departments in the UK each
year; 5% of these injuries are classified as
severe, 10% as moderate and 85% as minor
(Headway 2009). It is critical to make the
distinction between minor, moderate and
severe head injury because there is a degree
of morbidity associated with moderate and
severe trauma to the head (Headway 2009).
Even patients with an apparently minor
head injury have the potential to become
unwell. Therefore thorough assessment and
safe discharge of patients with head injury
are essential.