Minor stroke minor problem: What we are missing, and rethinking follow-up care.

Jenny Crow, HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic Programme, Clinical Doctoral Research Fellow, Imperial College London.

Minor stroke accounts for up to half of all strokes. Patients admitted to hyperacute stroke units (HASU) typically have short hospital stays, are often considered to have made a full recovery at discharge and usually receive no structured follow-up beyond routine medical review. In acute settings, many are assessed as “back to baseline,” with limited opportunity to identify residual or emerging needs.

This talk presents findings from a mixed-methods feasibility study of an early, personalised follow-up intervention informed and shaped by clinical practice, patient involvement, and theory-based principles. The intervention provides structured, holistic reviews at 2 and 6 weeks post-discharge. I will outline the intervention development process, feasibility trial outcomes, and qualitative insights into patient experiences across the stroke pathway. Findings highlight important unmet needs after minor stroke and demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of a personalised follow-up model to inform a future definitive trial.