Leaflet Details
| Title | Head Injury |
| Department | Emergency Department |
| Author(s) | Clinical Lead Emergency Nurse Practitioner |
| Review Date | March 2021 |
| Next Review | March 2023 |
| Download | A5 Booklet PDF |
| Accessibility Options | Click on the Recite Me button to show our accessibility resources |
Patient Information
Introduction
We think that it is all right for you to leave hospital now. We have checked your symptoms and you seem well on the road to recovery. When you get home it is very unlikely that you will have any further problems. But if any of the following symptoms do return we suggest you come back, or get someone to take you to your nearest hospital Emergency Department as soon as possible:
- Unconsciousness, or lack of full unconsciousness (for example, problems keeping eyes open)
- Any confusion (not knowing where you are, getting things muddled up)
- Any drowsiness (feeling sleepy) that goes on for longer than 1 hour when you would normally be wide awake
- Difficulty waking up
- Any problems understanding or speaking
- Any loss of balance or problems walking
- Any weakness in one or more arms or legs
- Any problems with your eyesight
- Very painful headache that won’t go away
- Any vomiting – being sick
- Any fits (collapsing or passing out suddenly)
- Clear fluid coming out of their ear or nose
- New bleeding from one or both ears
- New deafness in one or both ears
Things you shouldn’t worry about
You may experience some other symptoms over the next few days, which should disappear in the next 2 weeks. These include a mild headache, feeling sick (without vomiting), dizziness, irritability or bad temper, problems concentrating or problems with your memory, tiredness, lack of appetite or problems sleeping. If you feel very concerned about any of these symptoms in the first few days after discharge, you should go to the Emergency Department.
If these problems do not go away after 2 weeks, you should go and see your doctor. We would also recommend that you seek a doctor’s opinion about your ability to drive a car or motorbike.
Things that will help you get better
If you follow this advice you should get better more quickly and it may help any symptoms you have to go away.
 |
Do not stay at home alone for the first 48 hours after leaving the hospital. | |
 |
Do make sure you stay within easy reach of a telephone and medical help. | |
|
Do have plenty of rest and avoid stressful situations. | |
|
Do not take any alcohol or drugs. | |
|
Do not take sleeping pills, sedatives or tranquillisers unless they are given by a doctor. | |
|
Do not play any contact sport (for example, football) for at least 3 weeks without talking to their doctor first. | |
|
Do not return to your normal school, college or work activity until you feel you have completely recovered. | |
|
Do not drive a car or motorbike, ride a bicycle, or operate machinery unless you feel you have completely recovered. |
Resources
https://www.headway.org.uk/about-brain-injury/individuals/information-library/ for further information on the following:
- Concussion in sport
- Hospital treatment and early recovery after brain injury
- Mild head injury and concussion
- Concussion in the workplace
- Mild head injury discharge advice
