Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)
This information is aimed at professionals supporting stroke survivors in the region.
National guidelines
The NICE Guideline Stroke and transient ischaemic attack in over 16s: diagnosis and initial management NG128 was updated in 2019 and now recommends:
1.1.4 Offer aspirin (300 mg daily), unless contraindicated, to people who have had a suspected TIA, to be started immediately
1.1.5 Refer immediately people who have had a suspected TIA for specialist assessment and investigation, to be seen within 24 hours of onset of symptoms
1.1.6 Do not use scoring systems, such as ABCD2, to assess risk of subsequent stroke or to inform urgency of referral for people who have had a suspected or confirmed TIA
1.1.7 Offer secondary prevention, in addition to aspirin, as soon as possible after the diagnosis of TIA is confirmed
The RCP Clinical Guideline for Stroke 2016 updated its advice to remove risk stratification:
- Patients with acute neurological symptoms that resolve completely within 24 hours (i.e. suspected TIA) should be given aspirin 300 mg immediately and assessed urgently within 24 hours by a specialist physician in a neurovascular clinic or an acute stroke unit.
- Patients with suspected TIA that occurred more than a week previously should be assessed by a specialist physician as soon as possible within 7 days.
Greater Manchester TIA Services
All of our nine stroke units offer TIA services but none currently offer appointments at the weekend, however, we are working towards 7 day services. You can download contact details for referrals for our stroke teams here.
- Fairfield General Hospital – Service for Bury, Oldham, North Manchester & Rochdale patients. Use this referral form and patient information sheets – plain English and aphasia friendly
- Manchester Royal Infirmary – If external use this referral form and patient information; internal form is electronically available on the intranet).
- Royal Albert Edward Infirmary – Use this referral form and patient information leaflets – plain English and aphasia friendly.
- Royal Bolton Hospital – Use this referral form and patient information.
- Salford Royal Hospital – Use this flowchart and referral form and patient information leaflets – plain English and aphasia friendly
- Stepping Hill Hospital – Service for Stockport & Eastern Cheshire patients. Use this referral form and patient information – plain English and aphasia friendly.
- Tameside General Hospital – Use this flowchart, referral form and patient information leaflets – plain English and aphasia friendly
- Wythenshawe Hospital – Service information can be found here. Use this referral form and patient information sheets – plain English and aphasia friendly.
Useful resources
Not just a funny turn patient information leaflet plain English version 1
Not just a funny turn patient information leaflet aphasia version 1
