Features - National Stroke Awareness Campaign

- Think 'FAST' to identify signs of stroke -

A three-year campaign to promote public awareness around stroke was launched by the Department of Health.

Stroke, a loss of brain function due to a clot or bleed in the brain, is the third leading cause of death and the single largest cause of adult disability in England.

The campaign will inform the public about FAST - Face, Arm, Speech, Time to call 999. FAST is a simple test to help people to recognise the signs of stroke and understand the importance of fast emergency treatment.

Campaign adverts, on TV, radio, online and in print, show stroke 'spreading like fire in the brain' to illustrate that swift emergency action can limit damage and dramatically increase a person's chances of surviving and of avoiding long-term disability.

Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, said:
"Despite a big improvement in services, stroke still kills over 67,000 people in the UK each year and leaves thousands more disabled. In many cases, death or disability from stroke can be avoided, but recognition of these early warning signs is crucial.

"This campaign will help make sure that people having a stroke and those around them can recognise the signs and appreciate the need for fast emergency treatment."
As well as saving lives, the cost saving to the NHS as a result of this campaign will be significant. Direct stroke care costs the NHS £2.8 billion a year, and the wider economy a further £1.8 billion in income and productivity losses as a result of disability. The informal care cost is £2.4 billion.

Professor Roger Boyle, National Director for Heart Disease and Stroke, said:
"Stroke spreads like a fire in the brain - the sooner you get to treatment and put the fire out, the less damage is caused to the brain.
"The faster a stroke patient receives emergency treatment, the better their chances are of surviving and minimising long-term disability."

Jon Barrick, Chief Executive of The Stroke Association said:
"The Department of Health's stroke awareness campaign is vital. Better public understanding of stroke, its symptoms and treating it as a medical emergency will significantly improve the chances of recovery for the 150,000 people who have a stroke every year in the UK. The Stroke Association has been promoting FAST since 2005. We know that it's the best way for people to remember how to recognise the signs of stroke and call 999 straight away. The awareness campaign will give this work a fantastic boost and could help reduce avoidable deaths resulting from stroke."

FAST is used by paramedics to assess three specific symptoms of stroke prior to a person being admitted to hospital:

Facial weakness - Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?

Arm weakness - Can the person raise both arms?

Speech problems - Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?

Time to call 999 - If the person has any one of these symptoms call an ambulance

The term 'stroke' describes a loss of brain function due to a blood clot or bleed in the brain.
When the Stroke strategy was launched in December 2007, it was announced that £45 million would be allocated to Local Authorities over the next three years (2008 - 2011) to improve stroke care for adult stroke survivors and their carers in the community.
To meet the commitment made in the Stroke Strategy to provide specialist stroke care, £16 million has been allocated to fund training for one stroke specialist physician in each Strategic Health Authority.
Stroke statistics:
- Stroke is currently the third leading cause of death in the UK and the single largest cause of   adult disability in England
- An estimated 150,000 people have a stroke in the UK each year
- There are over 67,000 deaths due to stroke each year in the UK
- Stroke is the third most common cause of death in England and Wales, after heart disease and   cancer
- Stroke accounts for 9 per cent of all deaths in men and 13 per cent of deaths in women in the   UK
- Stroke has a greater disability impact than any other chronic disease. Over 300,000 people are   living with moderate to severe disabilities as a result of stroke
- The total costs of stroke care are predicted to rise in real terms by 30 per cent between 1991   and 2010
- Stroke patients occupy around 20 per cent of all acute hospital beds and 25 per cent of long   term beds
- Stroke units save lives: for stroke patients general wards have a 14% to 25% higher mortality   rate than stroke units
- Each year over 130,000 people in England and Wales have a stroke. About 10,000 of these   are under retirement age

The Department of Health's campaign to promote awareness around stroke will cost £12 million over three years.

For further information on stroke, the Stroke Helpline is on 0845 3033 100 (calls charged at local rate) and is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Email: info@stroke.org.uk or write to: Stroke Information Service, The Stroke Association, 240 City Road, London EC1V 2PR. Website The Stroke Association

Page created: 19 February 2009