What criteria should I use to determine whether to refer a patient with a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) for specialist assessment?

For a patient with a suspected transient ischaemic attack (TIA), the primary criterion for referral is the suspicion itself ¹. You should refer immediately anyone who has had a suspected TIA for specialist assessment and investigation ¹. This assessment should occur within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms ¹.

It is important to note that you should not use scoring systems, such as ABCD2, to assess the risk of subsequent stroke or to inform the urgency of referral for people with a suspected or confirmed TIA ¹.