The NHS is urging anyone who thinks they or a loved one have symptoms of stroke not be put off seeking help because of coronavirus but to ‘act FAST’.
NHS staff have worked hard to ensure anyone who needs stroke care can safely get it despite the biggest public health emergency in over a century.
Now there are concerns that people are putting off getting help when they need it due to coronavirus worries.
As part of the Help Us Help You campaign the NHS is urging the public to continue to act F.A.S.T. and dial 999 when stroke strikes.
Services across the country have been restructured to reduce the risk of patients being exposed to,or passing on infection in hospital.
The F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) acronym is a simple test to help people identify the most common signs of a stroke, and emphasises the importance of acting quickly by calling 999
- Face – has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
- Arms – can they raise both arms and keep them there?
- Speech – is their speech slurred?
- Time to call 999
For health advice and information, visit www.nhs.uk