Contact details
Address
Level 1, Battle Block
Royal Berkshire Hospital
Craven Road
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 5AN
Related wards
Related locations
Patient information leaflets
Stroke
A stroke is a serious life-threatening medical condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Strokes are a medical emergency and urgent treatment is essential.
To expedite emergency treatment, we regularly use Pre-Video Triage (PVT) calls directly from the ambulance crew to the hospital Consultant. This facilitates early decision making for the patient to ensure that they are reviewed and seen rapidly using the correct pathway.
We treat more than seven hundred strokes and one thousand TIA referrals every year. Our patients have direct and easy access to CT and MRI brain imaging, and cardiac investigations including Holter monitoring, echocardiogram, implantable cardiac recorder and contrast echocardiogram.
A TIA is a similar condition to a stroke. The blood supply to the brain is temporarily interrupted, causing a 'mini stroke'. People fully recover within 24 hours or less. However, as it can be a warning sign ahead of a full stroke, it is important that TIAs are treated very seriously and a person experiencing a mini stroke is seen quickly by a specialist.
Our clinics are run 7 days a week and are a mixture of face to face or telephone appointments.
Most clinics start in the morning and utilise MRI scans to confirm diagnosis.
Please note our scan times are usually in the afternoon so there may be some waiting after clinic. We advise that patients can leave the hospital and return later for the scan if they prefer, but this will be discussed with you at the appointment.
If you are referred with a suspected TIA, do not drive until we have seen you in the TIA Clinic: if involved in an accident, your insurance would not be valid.
Stroke Innovation
Our stroke department is a leading centre for stroke care. It has been a designated Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (HASU) since 2010, is recognised as a Centre of Excellence for thrombolysis (clot-busting) treatment, and holds University Department of Excellence accreditation from the University of Reading.
The department employs a variety of innovative techniques in treatment of stroke such as AI software which has seen the number of stroke patients achieving functional independence more than double.
The Trust's stroke services comprise:
Emergency and Acute Stroke Care
- Designated Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (HASU) at the Royal Berkshire Hospital
- Intravenous thrombolysis (clot-busting treatment)
- Mechanical thrombectomy at Oxford University Hospital, where required
Inpatient Rehabilitation
- Acute stroke care and rehabilitation within the Royal Berkshire Hospital
- Access to community hospitals for ongoing rehabilitation where appropriate
TIA (Mini Stroke) Services
- Consultant-led Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) clinics, seven days a week
- Nurse-led TIA outpatient follow-up clinics
Follow-up Care
- Stroke follow-up clinics at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Townlands Hospital and Newbury Community Hospital