Stroke patients are dying or suffering lifelong disabilities because people typically wait an hour and a half before dialing 999, the NHS has warned.
Health chiefs say tens of thousands more victims could be saved or made a better recovery if the public called an ambulance at the first sign of symptoms.
NHS England today launches the first major update to its ‘Act FAST’ stroke awareness campaign since 2009.
It encourages people to act immediately if someone experiences one of three common symptoms, such as difficulty smiling, difficulty raising an arm or slurred speech.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director for NHS England, said taking swift action could “help save and protect many more lives”.
But the request comes against a backdrop of slow ambulance response times, with crews routinely failing to arrive within the 18-minute target.
The latest NHS figures show that the average response time for ambulances dealing with emergency calls, such as heart attacks and strokes, was 36 minutes and 2 seconds in September.
Around 100,000 people suffer a stroke each year in the UK, which occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.
Stroke symptoms are commonly remembered by this four-letter acronym, FAST. Patients who suffer a stroke may often have their face droop to one side, have difficulty raising both arms and difficulty speaking, while time is of the essence as immediate treatment for a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or A minor stroke can substantially reduce the risk of having a stroke. much deadlier stroke
Other telltale signs of an impending stroke, equally common, often go unnoticed. These include sudden numbness on one side of the body, sudden vertigo, and difficulty swallowing.
In September, Queen guitarist Sir Brian May revealed that he suffered a stroke that left him unable to use his left arm.
Without timely treatment, a stroke can lead to death or long-term disabilities, such as paralysis, memory loss, and communication problems.
The NHS says rapid diagnosis and treatment is “critical” as stroke victims can lose around 2 million brain cells a minute, and delays contribute to further damage and make recovery more difficult.
The average time between the first stroke symptom and a 999 call was 88 minutes in 2023/24, according to new analysis of NHS data by the National Sentinel Stroke Audit Programme.
Its researchers, based at King’s College London, examined the medical notes of 41,327 stroke patients where these figures were recorded.
Meanwhile, a new NHS survey found that 57 per cent of adults in England believe you should have two or three symptoms of a stroke before calling 999, despite only one being a sign of an emergency. medical.
Almost two-thirds (64 per cent) of the 2,001 people surveyed said they would not call 999 as a first step of action if they noticed someone suddenly having difficulty smiling.
Sir Stephen said: “These figures highlight very clearly that we must do more to help people recognize the symptoms of stroke in themselves and others and take steps to call 999 as soon as possible.”
‘Stroke symptoms may be less obvious or dramatic than you would expect, but even if it doesn’t seem like it, any sign of a stroke is always an emergency and it is vital that you call 999 immediately.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis (pictured), national medical director for NHS England, said taking swift action could “help save and protect many more lives”.
“This campaign is very important – greater awareness of the need to act quickly and dial 999 could help save and protect many more lives, as we know that earlier recognition of symptoms and immediate action to call 999 can allow faster access to specialized treatment and the “Best chance of reducing the long-term effects of a stroke.”
NHS England said more people than ever are now surviving a stroke thanks to advances in care, but strokes remain the fourth leading cause of death in the UK, with 38,000 deaths each year.
Juliet Bouverie, chief executive of the Stroke Association, said: “More than 88,000 people survive a stroke each year in the UK, but surviving a stroke is just the start of a long and traumatic battle to find their way back to life. “I come back to life.”
‘Moms, dads, grandparents, young people and even children can survive a stroke, and the impact of the stroke on them and their loved ones can be catastrophic.
‘This new NHS campaign is very important in helping to raise awareness that stroke is always a medical emergency.
“If you spot any of the three common signs of a stroke in someone, the first thing you should do is call 999.
“The faster stroke treatments are given, the better.
‘As we say, “time is brain”, so it is important to recognize any of the signs of a stroke and act immediately.
“Acting FAST is vital to stroke survival and to help improve the path to recovery.”
