Stroke

Rapid access TIA clinics

Specialist review is available in our neurovascular clinic, which sees high-risk TIA patients within 24 hours from receipt of referral, and within a week for all others. Neuro-surgical and vascular surgical intervention is available on-site. The team also includes stroke specialist registrars (SpRs), clinical nurse specialists and multidisciplinary therapists.

TIA is a similar condition to a stroke. The blood supply to the brain is temporarily interrupted, causing a ‘mini stroke’. People fully recover within 24 hours or less. However, as it can be a warning sign ahead of a full stroke, it is important that TIAs are treated very seriously and a person experiencing a mini stroke is seen quickly by a specialist.

Stroke units

After initial investigation and stabilisation in the hyper acute stroke unit, patients will move onto a local stroke unit for ongoing management by medical, nursing and therapy staff, either within the Trust or at a hospital closer to home.

Stroke patients are all reviewed by a consultant stroke physician and a neurologist to optimise investigation and management. The ward managers and stroke clinical nurse specialists will provide information for discharged patients, and stroke SpRs can offer specialist advice. Patients are seen in an outpatient follow-up clinic following their discharge.

Rehabilitation and support

A variety of therapists will work together with the nurses and doctors to help patients regain as much independence as possible following a stroke. This may continue for some time. The rehabilitation team will support and assist patients by identifying goals, and by developing a treatment plan to help achieve them. The team also starts planning a patient’s discharge from the first day of their admission and always keeps the patient involved in the decision process.

Clinics

Rapid access TIA clinic at Charing Cross Hospital 

Address

Stroke and neuroscience assessment unit
Ward 8 West
Eighth floor
West wing
Charing Cross Hospital
Fulham Palace Road
London W6 8RF

Contact information

Phone: 020 3311 1255

Outpatient follow-up clinic at Charing Cross Hospital 

Address

Main outpatients department
First floor
Charing Cross Hospital
Fulham Palace Road
London W6 8RF

Hours

Clinic hours vary – please check your appointment letter for details.

Outpatient follow-up clinic at St Mary’s Hospital

Address

Main outpatients department
St Mary’s Hospital
Praed Street
London W2 1NY

Hours

Clinic hours vary – please check your appointment letter for details.

Meet the team

Consultant stroke physicians

Dr Soma Banerjee, head of specialty
Dr Marius Venter, associate medical director
Dr Lucio D’Anna
Dr Omid Halse
Dr Dheeraj Kalladka
Dr Joseph Kwan

Consultant neurologists

Dr Ieuan (Harri) Jenkins
Dr Pankaj Sharma
Dr Paul Bentley

Lead nurse for stroke services

Mr Brenton Key

Clinical nurse specialists

Ms Tsering Dolkar
Ms Astha Kafle

Therapy leads

Ms Davina Richardson, clinical service lead therapist (neurosciences and major trauma)
Ms Louise Penny, clinical lead therapist, acute stroke unit
Ms Victoria Atheron, clinical lead therapist, hyper acute stroke unit

Patient information

Before your appointment

You will receive an outpatient follow-up appointment four to six weeks after referral. If you cannot remember your symptoms it would be helpful if you could bring a family member or someone who witnessed your attack with you to the appointment. Please remember to bring a list of all your medications with you to your appointment. 

During your appointment

You will be greeted by the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) who will show you into the clinic room and take a blood pressure reading, measure your pulse and take your temperature. Once all your details have been checked, the doctor will perform a clinical examination and ask you about your symptoms.

After your initial examination, the team will decide which tests are most appropriate. You are likely to receive blood tests, ECG, a CT brain scan and carotid Doppler studies (a neck ultrasound). These tests will all be performed on the day of your appointment. Following your tests, you will return to the ward and see the doctor and clinical nurse specialist again, who will review all your results and give specialist advice and medication as required. Further tests may be required and you will be informed of these before you leave the clinic. You will then be discharged and a follow-up appointment will be sent in the post.

After your appointment

Along with recommending some lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of a future stroke, we will probably prescribe you medications to reduce the risk of further blood clots, to control high blood pressure, or control high cholesterol. You must tell your GP if you experience any problems while taking these drugs.

If the carotid Doppler study found that your stroke was caused by a severe blockage of the carotid arteries on either side of your neck, then you may be referred for surgery. An operation known as a carotid endarterectomy is done to unblock the narrowed carotid artery and reduce the risk of further stroke by improving the blood supply to the brain. The operation can be done under local or general anaesthetic. The length of hospital stay after surgery varies and will depend on your recovery and wellbeing. Your doctor will discuss this with you individually.

Stroke support group

Every month, we hold a stroke support group to encourage stroke survivors, their carers and family members to confidently enjoy life after stroke through provision of information, education, advice and support. Attendance is free and everyone is welcome. 

To register to attend this group, please contact our clinical nurse specialists in stroke. 

Phone: 020 3311 5445

Email: imperial.stroke.cns@nhs.net

Refer to this service

GP referrals

If you suspect a stroke, please dial 999.

For acute inpatient referrals or to discuss any patients, please contact the on-call specialist registrar at Charing Cross Hospital via the main hospital switchboard.

Phone: 020 3311 1234
Bleep: 0383

Our clinical nurse specialists (CNS) are also available on site via the main hospital switchboard if you have any queries or would like further advice.

Phone: 020 3311 1234
Bleep: 3643 or 7837

TIA referrals

Please Click here to download a copy of the referral form for TIA, complete it and email it to our service

Email: imperial.tia.clinic@nhs.net

Please ensure you complete the form in full to enable the team to appropriately screen the referral. 

For Charing Cross TIA services, please contact the TIA administrator. 
Phone: 020 3311 1255

Our clinical nurse specialists (CNS) are also available on site via the main hospital switchboard if you have any queries or would like further advice.

Phone: 020 3311 1234
Bleep: 3643 or 7837

As part of the referral process for TIA clinics an ABCD2 should be performed and documented on the referral form. This allows the CNS or the SpR to screen the referral and identify high risk and low risk patients and to triage them into the clinic accordingly. Please also provide a list of the patient's current medication with your referral.

Stroke and neurosciences advice service for GPs

In the case of an emergency or for time-critical queries, GPs should contact the on call specialist registrar by calling the hospital’s switchboard.

GPs and practice staff can contact our stroke and neurosciences medical specialists directly with clinical queries and general questions through the Trust’s new pilot GP advice service.

Email: strokeandneurosciences.imperial@nhs.net

GP advice lines are available from 12.00 to 14.00, Monday to Friday. We will try our best to respond to email queries within 24 hours (except weekends and bank holidays). Queries relating to specific patient referrals should be directed to the GP bookings office hotline.

Phone: 020 3313 5060

Please note, this service is for enquiries from GPs and practice staff only. If you are a patient with a query, please contact our patient advice and liaison service (PALS). For contact details and further information, please visit our PALS page.