The Stroke Association warns that calling 999 first ‘can make the difference between walking out of hospital or leaving in a wheelchair’
Record numbers of stroke victims are taking themselves to A&E rather than waiting for an ambulance.
The Stroke Association is warning people to call 999 first, insisting this “can make the difference between walking out of hospital or leaving in a wheelchair”. Over a quarter of people who suffer a stroke now make their own way to hospital after a decade of worsening ambulance callout delays.
The Stroke Association has pointed out response times are now finally improving and paramedics have specialist equipment to treat patients en route in the ambulance. They also know which hospitals have specialist stroke units and can head straight there.
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However it comes after a number of reports of people waiting for hours for ambulances after suffering a suspected stroke.
Professor Deb Lowe, medical director of the Stroke Association, said: “Stroke is a medical emergency so anyone who is experiencing symptoms should call 999 and wait for an ambulance. We have long supported the NHS’s Fast campaign which highlights the most common symptoms of stroke – facial drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech. That is when it is time to call 999.
“Even with the undeniable pressures the NHS is experiencing, we stand firm on that advice as it is the best way to get rapid and evidence-based care.”
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off and 1.9 million brain cells die every minute after it hits. Rapid medical treatment is vital to increase the chances of survival and minimise the risk of brain damage which can leave stroke survivors unable to move, see, speak, or even swallow.
The charity’s new analysis shows that a stroke patient makes their own way to A&E, instead of arriving by ambulance, every 22 minutes across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Overall 26.8% of stroke patients – or 23,491 people – reported making their own arrangements to get to the hospital in 2024/25, according to the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme.
It is the highest number since the stroke audit began more than a decade ago. The figure has been steadily rising over the last few years, up from 19.4% in 2020/21.
Ensuring patients get straight to hospitals with specialist stroke hubs means they are more likely to get quick treatment, including a lifesaving procedure to remove the blood clot known as a thrombectomy.
Fast-track brain scans can also be requested before an ambulance even arrives at the hospital. Patients are also be admitted straight to an acute stroke unit which is known to improve survival odds.
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The Stroke Association pointed out that in July, the average ambulance response time for category 2 calls which includes stroke was 28 minutes and 40 seconds – within the current 30-minute NHS target. Also ambulance handover times – how long a patient waits in an ambulance before being taken into hospital – have been falling in recent months.
Prof Lowe added: “The UK’s population is ageing rapidly and we’re expecting the number of people having strokes every year to rise by 50% to 151,000 by 2035. It is vital that each and every person affected by stroke gets the treatment they need as quickly as possible.
“We do understand people’s concerns about long ambulance waits but in most cases it is still the fastest and most efficient way to get the best treatment and care for stroke. This is especially pertinent when supported by technologies, such as prehospital video triage, which can help diagnose stroke on the road to a specialist stroke unit.
“Getting to the right place for rapid and effective treatment can make the difference between a stroke patient walking out of hospital or leaving in a wheelchair.”