I'm reminded of the old mantra: "Beware the drunk with a head injury"... Yes, in view of his age and history of unconsciousness, he ought to have had a CT scan "immediately", but the logistics of arranging such things, especially for patients who are drunk and combative are never straightforward. And it's a sad fact, but in all honesty, at 77 years old, I suspect the neurosurgeons would have been unlikely to attempt any heroics anyway.