The Neurovascular Service offers the following services:
Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) Clinic: At the TIA Clinic, patients are seen by a member of the Stroke Service team and a detailed recording of symptoms and past medical history will be taken. The patient may have an ECG, blood work, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and/or 24-hour heart tracing monitoring on the day or at a later date. Some patients may need to have an ultrasound scan of the main arteries in the neck which supply the brain, as these can become blocked. The scan is usually done on the same day as the TIA Clinic appointment or as soon as possible after this date. Some patients are also referred for a brain scan.
After the assessment, the Stroke Service team will review your case record and provide advice on how to prevent a stroke and discuss modifiable risk factors for stroke. The Stroke Service team will provide family and carers with information on local supports. It is important to note that patients to the TIA Clinic should not drive for at least 28-days post TIA or stroke.
The initial appointment can take up to two hours, so please ensure you have set aside enough time to complete the assessment. Please bring the following items with you to your appointment:
- A complete list of the medications you are currently taking.
- Any relevant information on tests and procedures completed in other hospitals.
- A friend, relative or carer who knows you well and can assist with the assessment process.
- If you are diabetic, please bring your glucometer as your blood sugars may be monitored during specific tests.
- If you are asthmatic, please bring your inhalers to the clinic
Patients are usually sent home after their TIA Clinic appointment, but on rare occasions the Doctor may feel the patient needs to be admitted.
Secondary Prevention Clinic: Clinical Nurse Specialist Suzanne Walsh, RGN, Hdip Cardiovascular Nursing, leads the Secondary Prevention Clinic which runs Monday through Friday from 9am to noon. Patients are reviewed as soon as possible after discharge from the hospital or upon referral from a TIA clinic. Abnormal results are reviewed daily with the hospital Consultant. You will be provided with discharge advice on what to do should symptoms reoccur and provided with a liaison for community and rehabilitation services.