A 2-week stroke review identifies unmet needs in patients discharged home from a hyperacute stroke unit.

Patients assessed as having made a full recovery following their stroke are discharged home within 72 hours of admission from the hyper-acute stroke unit (HASU). An onward referral is made to those boroughs offering a 6-month review. Patient feedback revealed that those assessed as not needing any further input on discharge may experience difficulties when back in the community, and accessing appropriate services can be difficult. In this pilot project, 21 patients were reviewed 2 weeks after discharge by a stroke support worker (SSW) using the post-stroke checklist (PSC). The data revealed that 11 of the 21 participants identified unmet needs. The domains of mood and information about stroke prevention had the highest unmet needs. This project raises questions about the assessment processes and education provided on the HASU, and demonstrates the need for joined-up working between acute and community organisations to ensure stroke survivors are able to access ongoing support, information and advice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]