"Dismissed with a head injury"

NHS rejected me with a head injury as I am over 65!

Viewing a property, loft access hatch fell down cutting to top of my head - lots of blood.

I went to the nearest NHS minor injury unit, Montegu Hosp Mexborough.

Queue to check in was only 4 deep. Got to front, details of injury taken, got to DOB, told I was too old to be seen.

Member of staff on reception said - We'll book you in but you probably wont be seen.

I took a bundle of clean paper downs to soak up the blood - still going after an hour - sat and waited for my wife.

I was called through to see a nurse - no name given, just had a note with my age circled at the top.

Was told I could not be seen as I was over 65 and because of NICE. I had no idea what that meant and no explanation was given.

Nurse did not address any of the following:

Was I on my own?

How did I get there?

When did this happen?

Did I loose consciousness?

Was my vision blurred?

Was I in pain?

Was I on any medication - blood thinners etc?

They did not even look at the wound!

I felt I was dismissed.

My phone was nearly flat so I asked a member of staff to call any other hospital that might be prepared to care for me . . . I pretty much had to beg them!

During this, I was told it's not their fault and this was stated on their website . . .

Because when blood is gushing from a laceration millimetres from your brain, the internet is the fist port of call to see if the hospital had an age limit!

Eventually the member of staff passed me the phone - it was another hospital. The member of staff in A&E and minor injuries was flabbergasted, just could not understand why this was happening - never heard of NICE. Told me there was capacity at a nearby hospital with a short wait.

That was the end of that. I walked out of the door, still bleeding, to wait for my wife in the street. Unsafe release, in my view!

There is a lot more to this but, key concerns are:

1. Do not expect treatment if you are over 65 at a minor injuries unit (which isn't even open after 8PM).

2. Do not expect to even be checked over/triaged.

3. Do expect to be dismissed with no options suggested.

NICE Quality statements:

Statement 1: People attending an emergency department with a head injury have a CT head scan within 1 hour of a risk factor for brain injury being identified.

The National Institutes of Health state: Head injuries in adults over 56, particularly those over 65, are a significant health concern, with falls from standing height being the primary cause. Due to physiological changes, such as brain atrophy and, frequently, the use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication, this demographic is at a higher risk of serious, often delayed,, intracranial bleeding.

NHS inform advises:

NHS treatment for head injuries in over 65-year-olds focuses on rapid assessment to rule out brain injuries, particularly because older adults may be on blood-thinning medications (like warfarin or DOACs) which increase the risk of delayed bleeding. For minor injuries, treatment involves home care with monitoring, while severe injuries may require immediate hospital admission for CT scans, neurosurgery, or rehabilitation.

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Immediate and Emergency Care

Assessment: Anyone over 65 who has experienced a head injury, especially a fall, should be assessed by a healthcare professional.

Observation: If a scan is not initially needed, the patient may be observed in the emergency department.

Medication Review: Due to the higher risk of bleeding, doctors will specifically review if the patient is taking anti-coagulant medications.

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Hospital Discharge and Self-Care

If sent home, the NHS recommends:

Responsible Adult: A responsible adult should stay with the person for at least 24 hours (sometimes 48 hours is advised).

Rest: Plenty of rest and avoiding stressful, noisy, or mentally demanding situations.

Pain Management: Paracetamol is generally recommended for headaches; ibuprofen should be used with caution (if allowed).

None of this was offered!

I will not rest until somebody addresses this disgraceful situation which puts the public at risk!

Thank you.