"The primary aim of these guidelines is to assist individual clinicians, hospital departments and hospital administrators in producing local protocols for: (a) assessment, investigation and immediate management of individuals with a transient ischaemic attack or acute stroke (other than a subarachnoid haemorrhage) (b) secondary prevention and risk factor management following a transient ischaemic attack or acute stroke The secondary aim of these guidelines is to suggest methods for implementation and for clinical audit. These guidelines are in keeping with the goals of health care for stroke patients, which are to:

reduce the incidence of stroke through primary prevention.

reduce case fatality following a stroke.

implement secondary prevention strategies to prevent a future vascular event.

reduce the level of disability due to stroke."

[...]

"These guidelines are developed for all health care professionals involved in the care of the stroke patient, including doctors, nurses, therapists, dieticians, medical social workers and hospital and health care administrators. They can be applied in primary care and in hospital-based and shared-care settings."

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"The guidelines are based on the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network’s Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Patients with Stroke10. These guidelines were reviewed and modified to meet local needs. New information in recent publications that impact on patients care were also reviewed and included."

A summary card of the guidelines is also available.