Medway Liberal Democrats support 'National Stroke Awareness Month'
During these unprecedented times, it is worth remembering that a stroke will continue to strike every five minutes in the UK. May is 'National Stroke Awareness Month', an observance that highlights the importance of knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke.
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Time is of the essence in terms of suffering a stroke, as this month highlights and we want critical stroke services that best serves the health needs of Medway residents to be secured. Liberal Democrats have called for local stroke services, which are under review, to be retained at Medway Maritime Hospital.
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Data from Public Health England suggest people are currently staying away from hospitals, with attendance to Emergency Departments dropping by over a third compared to this period, last year. Those who need urgent medical help should still attend their local hospital, the Stroke Association says: 'the NHS is well equipped to treat all medical emergencies.'
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We know that the NHS is currently under huge pressure and would like to thank all NHS staff and volunteers for their commitment, in helping people continue to rebuild their lives after a stroke.
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Stroke Awareness Month places emphasis on making the public aware about acting FAST, prompt assessment and treatment saves lives, with 80% of strokes being prevented.
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FAST being an acronym for things to check in a suspected stroke victim:
· F - Face / Does the face droop on one side when the person smiles?
· A - Arm / After raising both arms, does one of the arms drift downwards?
· S - Speech /After repeating a simple phrase, does the persons speech sound slurred or strange?
· T - Time / If any or all of the above are observed call 999 and ask for medical assistance.
If you are experiencing any symptoms or know of someone experiencing symptoms, you must call 999.
ENDS