New NHS campaign urges people to call 999 at first sign of stroke

Dialling 999 as soon as stroke symptoms occur is crucial to saving lives and preventing lasting damage, a new NHS England campaign is to stress as data reveals people wait almost an hour and a half on average before making an emergency call.

About 100,000 people in the UK have a stroke each year. The potentially life-threatening condition occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off . Recent data suggests that the number could increase to 151,000 a year by 2035.

Rapid treatment is crucial, both for survival and for reducing the chance of long-term problems such as paralysis, memory loss and difficulties in communication.

However, fresh figures have revealed the median time between first symptom of a stroke and a 999 call being made was 88 minutes.

The data has been released by NHS England as part of a new campaign to encourage people to act quickly should they see someone struggling to smile, having difficulties raising an arm, or slurring their speech – three common symptoms of stroke.

The need for speed is encapsulated in the “golden hour” – a 60-minute window after the onset of stroke symptoms in which there is the greatest chance of saving brain tissue.

“These figures highlight very clearly that we must do more to support people to recognise the symptoms of stroke in themselves and others and take action to call 999 at the earliest opportunity” said Pro Sir Stephen Powis, the national medical director for NHS England.

“Stroke symptoms can be less obvious or dramatic than you might expect, but even if it doesn’t seem like it, any sign of stroke is always an emergency and it’s vital you call 999 immediately.”

Related: ‘Unsustainable’: UK predicted to see 50% spike in strokes by 2035

The data was published by the sentinel stroke national audit programme at King’s College London. It was based on analysis of the records from 41,327 of the 60,307 stroke patients in England in 2023-24 who were conveyed by ambulance, and coverd those for whom the time of onset of first symptoms was known.

NHS England said a poll of 2,001 adults in England found 57% believed people should have two or three symptoms of a stroke before calling 999, despite just one being a sign of a medical emergency. Almost two-thirds of those polled (64%) said they would not call 999 as their first course of action if they noticed someone was suddenly struggling to smile.

The new push is an update of the Act FAST campaign, which was launched in 2009. That campaign encourages people to call 999 should they see weakness to the face (F) or arms (A), or speech problems (S), with time (T) being critical.

As well as new TV and radio adverts highlighting such symptoms, the latest drive will include a film in which stroke survivors listen to audio recordings of the real 999 calls that saved their lives.

While the NHS notes that a stroke can happen to anyone, those more at risk include – among others – people aged over 50, those from a Black or south-Asian background, and people who have just had a baby.

Dr David Hargroves, NHS England’s national clinical director for stroke and a consultant stroke physician, said: “When someone has a stroke, it’s estimated they may lose about 2m brain cells a minute, which is why rapid diagnosis and treatment is critical. The first sign of a stroke might not seem like much, but face or arm or speech, at the first sign it’s time to call 999.

“Thanks to greater awareness of the symptoms and advances in NHS care, more people are now surviving a stroke than ever before, but there is much more to do help save lives and reduce the long-term impact of strokes. Acting ‘FAST’ remains vital – whether it is a friend, loved one or even a passerby, dialling 999 quickly saves lives.”