2.4 Organisation of inpatient stroke services

There is strong evidence that specialised stroke unit care initiated as soon as possible after the onset of stroke provides effective treatments that reduce long-term brain damage, disability and healthcare costs. An acute stroke service consists of either: a) a comprehensive stroke centre (CSC) providing hyperacute, acute and inpatient rehabilitation including thrombectomy (thrombectomy centre) and neurosurgery; or b) an acute stroke centre (ASC) providing hyperacute, acute and inpatient rehabilitation. A stroke rehabilitation unit (SRU) provides inpatient rehabilitation only. All components of a specialist acute stroke service should be based in a hospital that can investigate and manage people with acute stroke and their medical and neurological complications, but this requirement does not apply to services designed to provide stroke care only in the rehabilitation phase. [2023]