‘Assault’ brain injury group pressures hospitals

VIOLENT assaults are creating a new category of brain injuries which are adding pressure to an already over-stretched rehabilitation resources, a medical expert has claimed.

Dr Mark Delargy, a consultant in rehabilitation medicine, said society had moved into “a different league of violence” in the past decade, creating a new category of brain injury patient.

“Over the past 10 years there has been a distinct change ... as an emerging group we have to reckon with 5% to 10% of patients who are victims of assault, which is quite substantial from our point of view. It is a group we did not see before. It highlights the danger of our streets and it adds to our workload.”