Barnsley Hospital offers an outpatient clinic appointment for patients discharged from the acute stroke unit or who are referred by GP’s. These clinics are either led by the stroke consultant or stroke specialist nurse.
TIA clinics
We run clinics for high risk and low risk TIAs.
The TIA clinics are led by the stroke specialist nurse or one of the stroke response nurses with support from the stroke consultant.
The low risk TIA clinic is run by South West Yorkshire Partnership Foundation Trust (SWYFT) and is led by the stroke consultant or stroke nurse consultant.
Referral into the TIA clinics is either from A&E or a GP. High risk TIA referrals are sent rapidly to the Barnsley Hospital appointment centre. An appointment will be made for the same or next day.
Low risk TIA referrals are sent to SWYFT’s community clinic.
TIA is a medical emergency – anyone experienced a suspected TIA should see a doctor immediately.
As part of your consultation a concise history will be taken, which will include date and time of onset of symptoms, what symptoms you have experienced and for how long these symptoms lasted.
Following your consultation if a diagnosis of TIA is suspected, you may require several investigations, which usually include:
- blood pressure testing
- blood tests
- ECG test
- carotid doppler studies
- you may need a CT scan or MRI scan
- you may need an echocardiogram or 7 day cardiac monitoring
The majority of these investigations will be carried out on the same day of your clinic appointment, so please be prepared for a lengthy visit.
Once your tests have been carried out, you may be started on medication and the recommendations for on-going management will be forwarded to your GP via letter. Usual treatment is medication to control your blood pressure and cholesterol, and medication to prevent blood clots forming.
You will also receive education and advice on lifestyle factors and reducing risks.
A follow up appointment will be made to attend 3-4 weeks later for the results of investigations and on-going management.