Stroke Unit
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Help us to improve stroke care
November 2022 – The Trust will soon be taking part in a national survey to find out what patients think about their stroke care.
The Stroke Service
The Stroke service is part of the Neurology Department at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is based within the Atkinson Morley Wing at St George’s Hospital. It provides inpatient and outpatient services for patients who have had a stroke or who are suspected of having had one.
As the Stroke service is situated within the tertiary neuroscience centre, it has access to state-of-the-art equipment and a wealth of expertise. It also works closely with the Neuroradiology and Vascular Surgery departments to ensure patients receive rapid diagnosis and treatment. Patients who are suspected of having a stroke are admitted to the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit for evaluation which may include the following tests: a CT scan, a carotid artery Doppler and ECG (electrocardiogram).
The Stroke service is the lead centre for the South East Stroke Research Network one of eight networks in the UK, which aims to promote stroke research to doctors and patients, and provide opportunities for collaboration. There are also strong links with researchers at St George’s University of London and research interests include stroke genetics, stroke imaging and treatment of diseased carotid arteries.
For further advice and information regarding strokes please visit the Stroke Association website or call them on 0303 3033 100
Contact details
William Drummond Ward (Hyperacute Stroke Unit): 0208 725 1326 / 1327
Stroke & Transient Ischemic Attack Co-ordinator: 0208 725 4734
Neurology and Stroke Service Manager: 0208 725 4667
Treatments
The Stroke service provides a 24 hour, 7 day a week service for thrombolysis (giving ‘clot-busting’ drugs to open up blocked arteries causing stroke). This is a regional service so we also accept patients from local hospitals who do not provide thrombolysis outside normal working hours.
The stroke service has two wards:
- 20 bed Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (William Drummond Ward) which gives immediate care for patients who have a suspected stroke
- Stroke Unit for local patients (Thomas Young Ward).
Patients needing further rehabilitation may be transferred to the Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Unit on Thomas Young Ward at St George’s Hospital or Gwynne Holford Ward at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton.
The Stroke service has eight consultants and a multi-disciplinary staff including specialist therapists and nurses. One of the consultants has a special interest in rehabilitation of stroke patients and works closely with colleagues at the Wolfson and Queen Mary’s Hospital.
Outpatient services include a follow up clinic for patients who have had a stroke and a one-stop clinic for those who have had a transient ischaemic attack (TIA). This is a ‘mini stroke’ where the blood supply to the brain is only briefly interrupted and symptoms of stroke are temporary. More information on the different types of stroke is available from the Stroke Association at www.stroke.org.uk
Referrals
Stroke Referrals
Patients who have had an acute stroke should be referred directly to the Emergency Department via the Ambulance Service. If further advice is needed on the management of a patient with a recent stroke, please contact the Stroke Consultant directly as detailed above.
Transient Ischemic Attack Referrals
We aim to investigate and treat people with a TIA in the past 7 days within 24 hours of referral. For patients with symptoms over 7 days ago we will investigate and treat within 7 days.
Please use the same TIA referral form and the TIA coordinator will contact the patient directly.
Method of referral is:
- E-mail the SGH TIA Referral Form – Dec 2019 to stgeorges.tia@nhs.net (Mon 08.00hrs to Friday 16.00hrs)
Due to intermittent issues with nhs.net emails being received – for completeness, please also send TIA Referrals to our TIA Clinic Co-ordinator on Jacqueline.Smith2@stgeorges.nhs.uk to ensure your referrals are received
Phone Advice
If you are uncertain about the best management of a patient with a suspected TIA, you may speak to a Stroke Consultant directly on 0782 693 4376 (Monday to Friday, 09.00hrs-17.00hrs). After hours and at weekends please call the Stroke Registrar via the hospital switchboard on 0208 672 1255. Please note – this phone number is for GP use only. Patients who phone this number directly will be advised to phone their GP surgery.
