"Stroke"

I am sorry to hear that you had to attend our Emergency department after suffering a suspected Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA). I have passed your comments on to the Head of the Department for Stroke and Elderly Medicine to get a more detailed explanation of the issues you have highlighted.

The Head of the Department explained that a TIA is not a stroke but rather transient neurological symptom suggesting that a person has an increased risk of stroke. Depending on the nature of the symptoms and their duration some TIAs are classified has high-risk and some are low-risk. Patients with “high-risk TIAs” should be assessed and treated within 24 hours and patients with “low-risk TIAs” within 1 week of their symptoms.

Unfortunately, without further information on your history, I am unable to investigate. If you would like to discuss your concerns further, please contact our Patient Relations team on 01253 955589 or e-mail patient.relations@bfwhospitals.nhs.uk they will be able to arrange a meeting to discuss your experience in person.

I am sorry that the procedure for the treatment of TIAs was not explained to you, I would like to thank you for taking the time to leave your story here on Patient Opinion, it is with feedback like yours that we can work to improve communication within the Trust.

Yours sincerely

Simone Anderton

Deputy Director of Nursing

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust