he Acute Stroke Thrombolysis team is a multi-disciplinary collaboration between the departments of Medicine, Accident and Emergency (A&E), Diagnostic Radiology and Imaging, Intensive Care Unit and Neurosurgery. They successfully overcame the challenges from the demand of an on-site neurologist and introduced the 24-hour intravenous stroke thrombolysis service in Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

This highly efficient, protocol-driven programme began in December 2008 with stroke thrombolysis calls activated by the A&E Department. Outside office hours, assessments were made by on-site medical specialists with the support by off-site neurologists who reviewed CT scans via remote access.

Up until March 2011, 72 patients were treated with intravenous thrombolysis and results reached international standards of efficacy and safety. 10 per cent of patients were discharged directly from QEH despite the initial presentation of a severe stroke - a rewarding outcome for patients and team members. The team successfully implemented the only 24-hour acute stroke thrombolysis service using tele-radiology in the Hospital Authority.

  -