Rise in stroke-related 999 calls
Published on 28 February 2012 12:00 PM
The Department of Health has said a campaign which points out the main symptoms of a stroke caused more people to make an emergency call when they thought they or someone else might have been experiencing one.
A total of 229,974 stroke-related 999 calls were registered by the NHS in England after the last campaign finished in April and May 2011, an increase of almost a quarter (24%).
The number of stroke sufferers who were treated more quickly also increased by 16%, the Department said.
The Act Fast stroke campaign, which runs every year, urges people to watch out for symptoms such as facial weakness, when a person cannot smile or their mouth or eye has drooped.
An inability to raise one's arms or speak clearly could also point to a stroke.
If people observe any of these symptoms, they are urged to call 999 immediately.
The next campaign is set to be run from the end of February to March 25.
Copyright Press Association 2012