Download Nurse-led stroke clinic supports and empowers patients

News Release
For immediate use
Friday 4 May 2012
NUH12PR53
Nurse-led stroke clinic supports and empowers patients
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) has become one the first
hospitals in the country to set up a dedicated nurse-led clinic to care for patients who
have had a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA).
A TIA is caused by a temporary fall in the blood and oxygen supply to part of the
brain and causes symptoms that are similar to a stroke, but do not last as long.
The clinic supports and empowers patients to make positive lifestyle choices
following the diagnosis of a TIA and has been nominated for the national NICE
Shared Learning Award 2012.
Based at Nottingham City Hospital, patients are seen within four weeks after their
stroke by a Specialist Stroke Advanced Nurse Practitioner. They are given the
opportunity to explore issues following their diagnosis in a supported environment as
well as tailored practical lifestyle advice.
Measures are taken to reduce the risks of further TIAs or strokes including changes
in medications. If further ongoing support is needed, patients are signposted to
appropriate services in the community.
Approximately 50,000 TIAs occur in England every year. They require urgent
medical treatment as they can result in an increased risk of a stroke which can lead
to disability or death. Patients diagnosed with a TIA may need treatment with drugs
or surgery, and may need to make significant changes to their lifestyle to reduce
their risk of further TIAs or strokes in the future. These changes could include
stopping smoking, being more active, changes in diet and medications.
Since being set up in May 2011, the clinic has treated a increasing number of
patients and currently sees around 15 patients a week. A patient experience
questionnaire has shown support for the clinic:

96% of patients found the clinic helpful

Over 90% felt they were given information and support that empowered them to
change their lifestyles and help prevent further strokes or TIAs

A significant proportion felt they received more individualised care in the
specialised TIA follow-up clinic
Tracey Palmer, Advanced Nurse Practitioner at NUH said: “The nurse-led clinic was
set up to address the inequalities in support of patients following a TIA as highlighted
by the National Stroke Strategy.
“The patient-centred clinic is about patients coming to terms with their diagnosis and
providing practical information, empowering them to make positive changes to their
lives.”
ENDS
Issued by Jack Adlam, Communications Officer, 0115 924 9924 ext 67754 or email
[email protected].
NOTES FOR NEWSDESKS
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the biggest and busiest acute
hospitals in England, employing 13,000 staff. We provide services to over 2.5 million
residents of Nottingham and its surrounding communities and specialist services to a
further 3-4 million people from neighbouring counties.
The Trust has three main sites (campuses):

Queen’s Medical Centre Campus (QMC) – our emergency care site (where
our Emergency Department is located)

Nottingham City Hospital Campus – where our Cancer Centre, Heart Centre
and Stroke services are based, and where we focus on planned care and the
care of patients with long-term conditions

Ropewalk House – where we provide a range of outpatient services, including
hearing services
We have national and international reputations for many of our specialist services,
including Stroke, Renal, Spinal, Breast, Neurosciences, Cancer Services and
Trauma. QMC is home to the Nottingham Children’s Hospital.
The Trust has an annual income of circa £720million, circa 1,700 beds (70-80
wards).
We are at the forefront of many research programmes and new surgical procedures.
Nottingham has Biomedical Research Units in Hearing and Digestive Diseases.
As a teaching trust we have a strong relationship with the University of Nottingham
and other universities across the East Midlands, including Loughborough University.
We play an important role in the education and training of doctors, nurses and other
healthcare professionals.