Head injury advice (CABIS)

Ask someone to take you to A&E if any of these happen:

• You pass out or cannot stay awake
• You feel sleepy for more than one hour when you would
• normally be awake
• You have trouble talking or understanding people
• You cannot walk properly or lose your balance
• You have problems with your eyesight
• You have a bad headache that will not go away
• You keep being sick
• You have a seizure (fit)
• Clear fluid comes from your nose or ears
• Blood comes from one or both ears

Things you do not need to worry about

Over the next few days, you may get some mild symptoms.

These should go away within two weeks. They can include:

• A mild headache
• Feeling a bit sick, but not being sick
• Feeling dizzy
• Feeling irritable or in a bad mood
• Hard to concentrate or remember things
• Feeling very tired
• Not feeling hungry
• Trouble sleeping

After a head injury – important info

If you are worried, call Community Acquired Brain Injury Service (CABIS) on 0191 566 5650

A duty worker is here Monday to Friday. They can call you back to help.

Symptoms do not always start straight away. Sometimes they can start up to two weeks later.

How to get better faster

• Do get plenty of rest and avoid stress
• Do not drink alcohol or take drugs
• Do not take sleeping tablets unless your doctor says so
• Do not play contact sports like rugby or football for at least three weeks. Ask your doctor first
• Do not drive, ride a bike, or use machines. Ask your doctor first

Comments, suggestions, compliments or complaints

You can talk to a staff member or use the contacts listed below. See other ways to give feedback

Your Voice
You can use this email to tell us what you think about your care. This can be good or bad. You can also ask us to tell you what happens after you send feedback.

Email: [email protected]

Comments and complaints
If something went wrong, please tell us. This will help us improve services.

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0191 245 6672
Write to: Complaints Department, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, St Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3XT.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS is a free and confidential service. They help if you have worries about your care. They support patients, families, and carers.

PALS North of Tyne
(services in Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland and North Cumbria)
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0800 032 0202

PALS South of Tyne
(services in Sunderland, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Lotus Ward, Middlesbrough)
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0800 328 4397

More about this leaflet

You can get more information about this leaflet from the Patient Information Centre. This includes how the leaflet was made. We can provide this leaflet in other formats. These include Braille, audio, large print, Easy Read, British Sign Language, and other languages.

We welcome your feedback about this leaflet. You can email [email protected]

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2026 Copyright: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Ref: PIC/957/0526 May 2026 V1
Review date 2029

Website: www.cntw.nhs.uk – Telephone: 0191 246 6800

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