The TIA Assessment Unit is a specialist clinic that offers a rapid access 7 day service in SDEC, A floor, East Block, QMC.
You have been referred to the TIA Assessment Unit by your GP or the Emergency Department due your recent symptoms/event. If they suspected a TIA, you may have been offered Aspirin 300mg daily or Clopidogrel 300mg daily (unless contraindicated) and you need to continue to take this until you are seen in clinic.
We aim to see patients within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms where possible to reduce the risk of a stroke. The clinic assesses patients for TIAs and minor strokes.
What is a TIA?
A TIA stands for a Transient Ischaemic Attack. A transient ischaemic attack is a temporary disruption in the blood supply to the brain. TIAs are caused by a blockage in one of the arteries (blood vessels) supplying the brain with blood. Usually, the blockage is a blood clot. TIAs are often referred to mini strokes and are linked to stroke. They are a warning sign that you are at risk of stroke and should never be ignored.
Most TIAs are thought to resolve within 1 or 2 hours but can persist for up to 24 hours. Symptoms may include:
- Weakness or sensory loss on one side
- Slurred speech
- Incoordination or vertigo
- Transient loss of vision in one eye
- Homonymous hemianopia (visual field defect)
- Cranial nerve defects
When you attend the clinic you will be assessed and investigated by our TIA specialist team which consist of:
- Nursing team
- Stroke consultant
- Advanced clinical practitioner in stroke
- Doctors
Patients will undergo tests in the clinic and will receive the results on the same day. Patients should expect to be at the TIA clinic for several hours. A prescription will be issued for any new medication.
Tests (you may not require all of these investigations. We treat patients on an individual basis)
- Blood pressure
- ECG (heart recording)
- Blood tests
- Carotid Doppler (an ultrasound of the arteries in your neck)
- A brain scan (An MRI or CT scan)
Our nursing team will take your blood pressure and blood tests and complete an ECG on arrival.
If you require an MRI head, our MRI department is in West Block on A floor.
If you require a CT head, our CT scanners are in the Emergency Department between West and East Block on A floor or B floor West Block .
If you require a Carotid Doppler, the vascular lab is in West Block on E floor.
You will be given an allocated time to attend these departments. You will return to the clinic once your scheduled tests are complete. A clinician will then give you your results, recommendations, lifestyle advice if required and/or a prescription. The prescription can be collected from our pharmacy on B floor in the main entrance of the hospital
Refreshments
You may wish to go to Costa coffee or (B floor main entrance, or the restaurant (D floor West Block), There is a shop in the main entrance to buy refreshments. You may also wish to bring your own provisions.
What you need to bring to clinic?
Please bring a list of your current prescriptions you take. It is also important to tell us if you take any over the counter medications.
If you wish to bring a family member or friend to the appointment that is fine. It is often helpful, particularly if they witnessed the event/episode that led to your referral.
Driving
It is not safe or legal to drive until you have been seen in the TIA clinic. This is a DVLA requirement and the law. We will advise you in the clinic about driving restrictions related to your diagnosis once your tests are complete.
Further symptoms
If you have further symptoms before you attend clinic, call 999 urgently
Whilst in the clinic we would like you to complete a feedback either via our Ipad or a written card to tell us how we did.
