Based on a study involving the University of Exeter, PenCLARHRC (Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care in the South West), the South West Academic Health Science Network, and 7 regional acute hospitals.
 

The team used simulation modelling to replicate acute stroke pathways and to ask various ‘what if?’ questions. The project identified three key areas driving overall thrombolysis rates:
 

• Speed of the pathway, for example taking FAST-positive patients straight to the scanner rather than going via the Emergency Department

• The importance of ascertaining the stroke onset time (even if this may slow the pathway)

• Confidence in using thrombolysis for patients scanned with time left to thrombolyse