Early assessment by a mobile stroke team: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: There is overwhelming evidence of the effectiveness of specialist stroke rehabilitation, but more limited evidence of the effectiveness of organised stroke care during the acute phase of stroke.

Objective: To determine the impact on outcome of access to a mobile team during the acute phase of stroke among patients admitted to general wards.

Study Population: 308 patients admitted to one of two hospitals within 5 days of the onset of a clinically diagnosed stroke.