Study: Stroke awareness campaign saving lives

STROKE-related hospital admissions increased by almost 90% following the launch of a public awareness campaign about Ireland’s third biggest killer disease, a study shows.

It also found that almost 60% more stroke victims got to hospital in time to receive potentially life-saving thrombolysis treatment during the first phase of the campaign last year.

The FAST Campaign, launched by the Irish Heart Foundation in May last year, focused on the key symptoms of stroke — facial drooping, an inability to raise arms and slurred speech.

The campaign also emphasised the need to call the emergency services immediately.

Research carried out by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) concentrated on two Dublin hospitals, Beaumont and Connolly, found the campaign resulted in a 55% increase in stroke-related ambulance calls.

Irish Heart Foundational head of advocacy Chris Macey said awareness levels were dropping at the end of each wave of advertising, underlining the need for more state support to ensure the message became more ingrained in the public consciousness.

“There is a lot of practical non-financial assistance the state could give to help us develop long-lasting awareness, such as putting FAST training on the school curriculum,” Mr Macey said.

“This isn’t too much to ask given that the campaign is saving lives and is saving the state money by reducing the need for nursing home places for stroke patients. However, in spending €250,000 on the first phase of the campaign, we have had to hand over more than €50,000 to the exchequer in VAT payments,” he pointed out. “An estimated 10,000 people will have a stroke in Ireland this year,” said Mr Macey.

Gary Smith from Boolavogue, Co Wexford, who had a stroke last year, was at the launch of the study in Dublin yesterday.

The 37-year-old truck driver praised his wife Clare for acting so quickly. Clare said she would not have recognised the stroke signs if she had not seen the FAST advertisement.