Appointments

Your appointment

If we suspect you've had a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) you'll need to attend the neurovascular clinic for further tests.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic we may need to cancel your appointment.

Some face-to-face appointment may change to a video or telephone consultation. If we cancel your appointment you'll remain on our waiting list and we'll contact you in due course. We may discharge some people back to their GP and we'll write to you if this is the case.

If you haven't heard from us within 3 days of your appointment, please contact us. Please also contact us if you have any concerns or queries.

If you have an appointment for the neurovascular clinic it's important that you attend. We need to check your symptoms so we can give you the appropriate treatment.

How to get an appointment

When you're discharged from the emergency department (A&E), you'll be booked to attend the next available neurovascular clinic.

We'll phone you to book your appointment. If you haven't been informed of an appointment within 48 hours of leaving the emergency department, please call us.

Changing or cancelling your appointment

Phone: 020 7188 7188 ext 54079

Please tell us as soon as possible so that we can give your appointment to another patient.

Before your appointment

You must not drive until you have seen a stroke specialist who'll let you know when it is safe to do so.

During your appointment

The neurovascular clinic is held on Monday afternoons and Thursday mornings at Gassiot House outpatient centre.

This clinic is for:

• assessing and treating people with a stroke or suspected transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
• rapid assessment and treatment for low-risk TIA patients
• urgent referrals for carotid surgery
• stroke follow-up appointments for further investigations or a review of the long-term impact of a stroke

If you need further investigations they'll often be done on the same day. This might mean you need to stay in the hospital beyond your appointment time. We'll explain this to you during your appointment.

You may have any of the following tests:

• electrocardiogram (checking if you have a regular heart rhythm)
• blood pressure
• blood tests
• brain scan
• ultrasound of your neck (looking at the blood flow to the brain)
• echocardiogram (checking for heart disease)

After your appointment

We'll arrange any follow-up appointments with you before you leave the clinic.

Follow-up appointments will most likely be done by telephone.

We'll send you and your GP a copy of your assessment by post.