Stroke Awareness and The Importance of Prompt Medical Attention.
May is Stroke Awareness Month, which takes place every year to highlight the realities of a stroke, the importance of recovery support, stroke prevention, and causes.
In the UK someone is affected by a stroke every 5 minutes, meaning that in May, over 200 people every day will wake up to the life-changing impact of a stroke.
Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke
It is known that prompt medical treatment can help minimise the permanent effects of a stroke. Therefore, it is imperative that stroke symptoms are widely recognised by everyone so that urgent medical attention can be sought as time is of the essence when it comes to strokes.
The main stroke symptoms to be aware of can be remembered by the ‘FAST’ acronym:
- F-FACE – Does one side droop or feel numb? Check for an ‘uneven’ smile.
- A-ARMS – Is one arm weaker than the other or numb? If both are raised, does one fall downwards?
- S-SPEECH – Is speech slurred or difficult to understand?
- T-TIME – If you see any of these signs, call 999 immediately – every minute counts.
Remember: Face or Arm or Speech, at the first sign, it’s Time to call 999.
When someone is suffering a stroke, there is a very small window of opportunity for treatment to be administered to reverse or prevent the progression of stroke symptoms.
There are different types of strokes requiring different treatment. However, if the window of opportunity passes, strokes can very sadly be fatal or leave severe permanent symptoms.
For further information directly from the Stroke Association’s website, please follow this link: https://www.stroke.org.uk/stroke-awareness-month
Effective Stroke Treatment: What Should Happen?
Upon showing signs of a stroke, medical professionals should:
- Order urgent brain scans to determine the type of stroke the patient is suffering from and to evaluate the severity.
- Close neurological monitoring should be arranged and the onset of symptoms should be established, as this is when the clock starts running for treatment to have the best chance of being successful.
- The different treatment options should thereafter be coordinated promptly, without delay.
- Appropriate stroke rehabilitation should also be implemented afterwards to provide the best possible opportunity of recovery.
Suspecting Medical Negligence in Stroke Treatment – Key Steps to Take
Unfortunately, sometimes stroke symptoms are overlooked by medical professionals or the treatment required is not organised as promptly as it should be. This can result in more serious consequences that could have been avoided.
If you are concerned about medical treatment that yourself or a loved one has received after suffering a stroke, our experienced solicitors in our Clinical Negligence Department would be happy to discuss your concerns in a free, no commitment consultation. You can get in touch on 0800 987 8800 or make a free online enquiry here and we will contact you. Alternatively, email us at [email protected].
Medical Negligence Specialists – Bridge McFarland LLP
At Bridge McFarland LLP, we have a nationally recognised team of medical negligence solicitors whose services are offered at all of our offices (Grimsby, Lincoln, Hull, Louth, Anlaby, Market Rasen and Scarborough) but who are also able to see clients elsewhere in the country. We are an established and nationally recognised law firm renowned for specialist expertise and experience in this complex area of law. With our determination and commitment to providing our clients with an exceptional standard of service, we have held the highly regarded Lexcel quality mark since June 2008.
Contact our team for more information, or please visit our dedicated medical negligence website.
