national-clinical-guidelines-for-stroke-fourth-edition

ISBN 978–1–86016–492–7
eISBN 978–1–86016–493–4
Royal College of Physicians
11 St Andrews Place
Regent’s Park
London NW1 4LE
www.rcplondon.ac.uk
National clinical guideline for stroke fourth edition
Over a quarter of the population over the age of 45 will suffer a
stroke. Timely assessment and modern high-quality treatment
can now save the lives of and considerably reduce disability in
stroke patients.
This fourth edition of the stroke guideline, prepared by the
Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party, provides comprehensive guidance
on stroke care pathway, from acute care through rehabilitation and
secondary prevention on to long-term support and terminal care.
The guideline incorporates NICE recommendations where appropriate
and other UK documents such as the National Stroke Strategy and
the National Service Framework for Long-Term Conditions, making the
document an essential, comprehensive resource for people working
in stroke. It informs healthcare professionals and stroke survivors and
carers and those responsible for commissioning services about the care
stroke patients should receive and how this should be organised.
Its goal is to improve the quality of care for everyone who has a stroke,
regardless of age, gender, type of stroke, or where the patient is.
The guideline is relevant to people in all countries.
This edition includes, for the first time, evidence to recommendations
sections which explain in more detail, how certain recommendations
were derived. There is a chapter on commissioning which makes
the document relevant to everyone in stroke care – those who pay
for it, those who manage it and those who deliver care of any sort
at any time, to people after a stroke. It also contains professionspecific
guidelines for nurses, dietitians, occupational therapists,
physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, psychologists and
those working in primary care. It is therefore an invaluable resource for
everyone involved in stroke care. n