The guidelines, issued by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), cover the onset of suspected stroke through to the assessment and treatment of stroke.
The guidance mirrors the DoH's stroke strategy, which also emphasises the importance of early intervention, and calls for patients with suspected ischemic stroke to be treated within four and a half hours of onset of symptoms.
All patients who have had an ischemic stroke should receive antiplatelet and statin therapy for secondary prevention of vascular events.
Dr Paul Syme, consultant physician at Borders General Hospital in Melrose and chairman of the guideline development group, said: ‘This updated guideline and set of standards emphasise the importance of early recognition, diagnosis and treatment.'
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