In 2016, it was estimated that Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) alone result in approximately 1.4 million attendances to A&E in England and Wales each year, and is the leading cause of death in the under 40s. Those who do survive moderate or severe injuries often have long-term disability. This impacts upon their ability to participate within society, and leads to a considerable carer burden for families and society at large. Even so-called “mild” brain injuries are increasingly being seen as having negative outcomes.

In 2009, the NIHR Brain Injury Healthcare Technology Cooperative (HTC) was set up to “Find, Facilitate and Foster” the solving of problems for this patient group through technological solutions. The first step is “Find”. In order to “Find” these problems a wide range of activities were undertaken over the course of 5 years in order to develop a “Directory of Unmet Need”.