Overview
Our stroke service looks after patients who have had a stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) to offer the best possible clinical care for all phases of the stroke pathway. Our stroke ward at Darent Valley Hospital offers 24-hour 7-days a week care to provide rapid assessments in the first few hours after stroke to assist early stage treatment of stroke.
All stroke patients are under the care of a multidisciplinary team to facilitate the effective recovery from their stroke. This team is made up of consultant stroke physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists to assist the patient with feeding, communication and other aspects of rehabilitation. The team also work closely with the Trust's consultant neurologists and vascular surgeons.
Useful Links & Information
The F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) acronym is a simple test to help people identify the most common signs of a stroke, and emphasises the importance of acting quickly by calling 999
- Face – has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
- Arms – can they raise both arms and keep them there?
- Speech – is their speech slurred?
- Time to call 999
For non-emergency stroke referrals and repatriations, please complete the Stroke Referral Form and submit it with relevant clinical documentation to dgn-tr.spruceward@nhs.net.
Referrals are processed during office hours and reviewed in line with the Repatriation Acceptance Process. Following confirmation of referral receipt and catchment eligibility, a decision regarding acceptance will normally be made within 6 hours of review.
For emergency referrals or urgent clinical discussions, please contact the on-call Stroke Team via the Trust switchboard.
Documents
We have specialist outpatient clinics for patients who are thought to have had a TIA or stroke:
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Stroke Clinic [Consultant Led], Evergreen, Level 2
- One-stop rapid access TIA Clinic, Spruce Ward, Level 2
- Zio patch Outpatient Clinic, Spruce Ward, Level 2
We hold a ‘one-stop’ rapid access clinic at Darent Valley Hospital for patients who have suffered a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), mini stroke or minor stroke offers patients, rapid access to investigations and diagnosis in one visit. We aim to see patients at high risk within 24-hours from referral and low risk patients within seven days from referral. Patients are assessed by specialised practitioners to facilitate treatment and advice to prevent a further attack.