‘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.”

Dr Delargy said what was even more alarming was that some of the young men with brain injuries were not the type “prone to fighting”. They were often “bystanders at an event, those trying to settle things down”, or those who tackle car thieves.

A high element of the assaults took place outside nightclubs, he said.

Alcohol played a big role in brain injuries, Dr Delargy added.

“I think it would be fair to say that alcohol plays a significant role in brain injury, according to international statistics. It is an underlying factor in drink driving cases which lead to brain injury.

“Alcohol and speed are a dangerous combination. An excess of alcohol in an aggressive situation in a town centre is also a very bad combination.”

Dr Delargy, a consultant based at the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dún Laoghaire, said the growing number of brain injury cases was putting pressure on beds.

New statistics from Britain recommend 60 beds per one million population for brain injury patients. There are approximately 40 beds dedicated to brain injury in the NRH.“The UK stats show that we need in the region of 240 beds.

“Our target is to get another 200, or eight rehabilitation units with 25 beds each around the country so people would not have to travel as far for treatment.”

Dr Delargy said more rehab beds should be provided at hospitals such as Cork University Hospital and Beaumont, which already had the necessary neurological expertise.

He said such hospitals needed units similar to a new unit at the NRH, Corofin Millennium Lodge, designed to help brain injury patients adjust to their new situation in life.