Trauma services

Trauma services at Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) are designed to provide additional support and therapy to patients who have experienced mild head injuries or trauma-related admissions.

Mild head injuries

The mild head injury clinic is mostly a phone based service operating out of RDH.

Who can access the clinic

You can access the clinic if you:

• are receiving treatment for significant post concussive symptoms and the symptoms are expected to continue impacting your daily life
• had a CT scan that was inclusive of contusions, skull fractures, or bleeding
• were not seen by an occupational therapist when presenting at the emergency department (ED) for a head injury and are displaying post concussive symptoms
• are re-presenting to ED with a history of mild head injury and having ongoing post concussive symptoms.

You can't be seen by the clinic if you:

• have mild or no post concussive symptoms
• need a clearance to return to driving or working
• require regular occupational therapy input for a known traumatic brain injury
• have been discharged from rehabilitation services - you may be referred to rehab outpatients instead.

How to access the clinic

You can contact the clinic directly if you meet the access criteria.

The hospital and other health professionals can also refer you to the service.

Contact the mild head injury clinic

To self-refer call the mild head injury clinic on  08 8922 6412.

The mild head injury clinic is located at RDH level 1 in the allied health office.

Hospital staff and other health professionals can email referrals to clinic mhi.clinic@nt.gov.au.

Trauma support at RDH

If you're being treated at RDH for a trauma related admission, a team of healthcare professionals who specialise in trauma care will oversee your treatment until you're ready to:

• leave the hospital or
• be transferred to a rehabilitation service.

The service includes medical, nursing, physiotherapy, social work and occupational therapy.

Who can access the support

Anyone who has been in hospital for trauma or currently being treated in hospital for trauma can access the support.

This can include trauma relating to:

• vehicle collisions or accidents
• pedestrian injuries
• e-scooter accidents
• assaults such as stabbing or blunt force
• falls
• self-harm
• alcohol fuelled violence
• burns
• drowning.

How to access the support

Referrals can only be made by health professionals working within NT Health, such as hospital staff or other allied health services.

Contact trauma support

Trauma support is located at RDH level 1 in the allied health office or you can call 08 8922 8888.