The fifth edition of the National Clinical Guideline for Stroke was published in October 2016. It was prepared by the Royal College of Physicians Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party chaired by Professor Tony Rudd. The 2016 edition of the guideline was accredited by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Please note the 2023 edition of the National Clinical Guideline for Stroke for the UK and Ireland is now available. The new guideline is endorsed for use in clinical practice by the RCP, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Visit here to access the guideline: www.strokeguideline.org.
The 2016 guideline provides a comprehensive examination of stroke care, encompassing the whole of the stroke pathway from acute care through to longer-term rehabilitation, including secondary prevention. The edition also informs healthcare professionals about what should be delivered to stroke patients and how this should be organised, with the aim of improving the quality of care for everyone who has a stroke, regardless of age, gender, type of stroke, or location.
It also has a detailed section on commissioning of stroke care, which will be useful for clinical commission groups in the changing healthcare landscape.
The 2012 version of the RCP National clinical guideline for stroke is also available.
