The Evening Times ran an article about figures in a new report showing that women from Lanarkshire experience higher-than-average rates of stillbirth and neonatal deaths than other parts of Scotland. The region recorded the second-highest rate in Scotland with 6.42 deaths per 1,000 births. However it is worth noting that the figure of 7,096 Lanarkshire resident […]
Act FAST to reduce death and disability
Evidence shows hospital staff can fail to recognise stroke quickly or treat it as a medical emergency.
Over 1000 people in Lanarkshire have a stroke every year so it is essential to recognise when it’s happening and take urgent action.
Stroke is a medical emergency. Through swift action, patients can receive the early acute assessment and treatment – such as the use of a clot-busting drug (thrombolysis) – that can prevent further damage to the brain.
Early referral can also be made to the acute stroke unit, which is known to reduce death and disability.
The Stroke Managed Clinical Network held stroke awareness stands at the three acute hospitals during October and November to promote the key points:
- Stroke? Early recognition using the FAST test
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 act urgently
- When? Time of onset of symptoms
- Contact the on-call stroke consultant for thrombolysis/stroke thrombolysis nurse via switchboard
- Then arrange an urgent CT scan.
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