The ASU will be transferred to Ward 24 Christchurch Hospital in December 2013.
Patients with stroke may either be admitted to the ASU under the care of Neurology or under General Medicine (GM).
General guidelines for the division of patients with stroke between GM and Neurology are as follows:
Admission under Neurology is indicated if specialized neurological assessment, monitoring, or management may be required. For example:
Patients considered for thrombolysis. This will be administered on Ward 24.
Patients with progressive, recurrent, or unstable stroke deficits.
Younger patients with large strokes who may be at risk of deterioration due to progressive brain swelling.
Patients where the diagnosis or aetiology of stroke is of uncertain or unusual kind, including younger patients (<65 years) without traditional vascular risk factors.
Admission under General Medicine is indicated for patients who present with stroke as a manifestation of systemic cardiovascular disease without other acute neurological issues.
These patients will be admitted to the Acute Medical Assessment Unit (AMAU), also in Ward 24, under one of the GM Teams on call.
When the diagnosis of stroke has been confirmed, the patient will be transferred to the ASU under the Acute Stroke Team.
Patients with stroke on other hospital wards:
The Acute Stroke Team should be notified of all patients in the hospital with stroke and will visit them on their ward. Contact the Stroke Clinical Nurse Specialist on pager 8978 (0730-1600 Mon-Fri), or the designated Stroke Nurse on Ward 24, morning or afternoon shifts daily including weekends.