Lives could be saved and disability reduced if stroke was always treated as a medical emergency, according to the Stroke Association. The charity is calling on the public to act fast if they suspect a stroke, as part of an 18-month nationwide campaign launched on 6 October.
Stroke Association urges action
The “Stroke is a Medical Emergency” campaign aims to raise public awareness of the symptoms of stroke and the need for changes within the health service so that stroke gets priority treatment. One of the key causes of delay is the lack of 24 hour brain scanning. The charity will be calling for more scanners and expert staff to make sure that stroke can be diagnosed quickly whenever it happens.
The public are being asked to “Act FAST” on stroke and learn how to recognise the signs of a stroke and to call 999 if a stroke is suspected. The focus for this is the “Face, Arms, and Speech Test”, or FAST, that tests for the symptoms of stroke, and stands for Facial weakness, Arm weakness, Speech problems, Test all three!
The Stroke Association will also be campaigning for change in the health service and will be looking to work with GPs, paramedics and other A&E professionals, which is being supported by the Ambulance Service Association.
