Table 1

Key features of a stroke unit chosen as markers for stroke unit organisation from a review of the literature^1,²

Characteristic from research	Wording of the questions used within the organisational audit 2001–2
(1) Staff with a specialist interest in stroke or rehabilitation	Is there a consultant physician with specialist knowledge of stroke who is formally recognised as having principal responsibility for stroke services?

(2) Routine involvement of carers in the rehabilitation process	Does the stroke service have formal links with patients’ and carers’ organisations for communication on service provision, audit and future plans?

(3) Coordinated multidisciplinary team care incorporating meetings at least once per week	Are there team meetings at least once a week for the interchange of information about individual patients?

(4) Information provided to patients and carers	Is there patient information literature displayed in unit/ward on the following: condition specific literature on stroke?
	Is there patient information literature displayed in unit/ward on the following: patient versions of national or local guidelines/standards?

(5) Regular programmes of education and training	Is there an in-house programme for the continuing education of qualified staff in the management of stroke?