TIA clinic referral pathway

If your patient has had a TIA, please refer to the TIA clinic by urgent referral via SCI-Gateway, listed under “General Medicine - Stroke”.

Please include the following information:

• Description of symptoms
• Duration of symptoms
• When the symptoms occurred
• Relevant PMH (eg diabetes, IHD, previous strokes)
• Medication
• Blood pressure

The following patients should be discussed with stroke team for admission rather than referral to TIA clinic (via bleep 4660 or via consultant connect Monday- Friday 9-5 or weekends/PH 9-3 or via medical receiving in out of hours period):

• Ongoing neurology (even if improving) – treat as stroke
• More than one episode in 7 days
• On anticoagulation
• In atrial fibrillation

If you are not sure if it was a TIA, or what the best management is or whether they need admission, please call stroke team on the contact details above.


Antiplatelets – this is the single most important thing to do to prevent further TIA or stroke:

• Start aspirin 300mg (give one dose as one-off and to take daily until reviewed by stroke team)
• If patient is intolerant/allergic to take aspirin, give a loading dose of clopidogrel (300mg) followed by 75mg daily thereafter.
• If patient is anticoagulated for AF and declines admission, switch to aspirin 300mg once daily.
• If anticoagulated for another reason, discuss with medical team.

Consider if PPI cover in addition may be indicated.