[Emergency treatment of stroke patients--what does the primary health care do?]

Has new evidence concerning acute care for stroke patients changed medical practice in primary health care in Norway? What type of wards are currently used when stroke patients are admitted to hospital? These questions are discussed on the basis of data from telephone interviews with chief medical officers in a representative sample of 77 Norwegian local administrative areas (municipalities). 60% of the medical officers state that admission practices are more liberal now than five years ago. Less severe cases are admitted to hospital more often. 34% claim that there has been no change, and 1% report that the practice is stricter now than before. According to our informants, routines for transport, managing TIA and managing nursing home patients with acute stroke vary. 26% of all stroke patients have access to stroke units. In most cases (59%) an ordinary medical ward is the only option.