Stroke / transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
Adult

Neurology

Useful Management Information

  • Consider allied health (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy) management
    • to assess functional capacity if disability increasing
    • speech pathology for assessment of swallowing and/or communication difficulties
    • occupational therapist and physiotherapist for patients with mobility/ADL changes
  • Consider driving advice
  • If the question relates to resumption of pre-stroke activities e.g. driving or working, please also refer to and include the Rehabilitation discharge summary
  • Consider driving advice Austroads: Assessing Fitness to Drive 2016 http://www.austroads.com.au/driversvehicles/assessing-fitness-to-drive Assessing Fitness to Drive 2016


Patient resources

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • Stroke/TIA known or suspected with last change in symptoms less than 2 weeks prior to referral
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Stroke/TIA known or suspected with last change in symptoms more than 2 weeks prior to referral
  • Covert brain infarction – and other neurovascular “what is this lesion” questions i.e., ICAD, DVAs, suspected amyloid angiopathy changes
  • Second specialist opinion for secondary prevention
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • Chronic ischaemic lesion identified on imaging not previously addressed
  • If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested:
    • Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
  • Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service.

Essential Referral Information

  • Neuroimaging results
  • Medication list
  • Relevant previous medical history

Additional Referral Information

  • ELFT
  • FBC
  • fasting lipids and glucose results
  • ABCD2 stroke risk score
  • ECG results
  • Doppler ultrasound carotid vessels
  • Echocardiogram
  • Holter monitor results
  • Discharge summary (if the patient is being referred for second opinion)
Last updated 2 June 2024

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Send to: Gold Coast Health Service District

Internal Referrals

Neurology (E-Blueslips)

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

Booking and Referral Centre
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215

Enquiries

1300 559 083

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

Service Availability

Dr Saman Heshmat
Medical Director Neurology

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital

If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.

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