A NEW service which could save the lives of stroke victims will be launched at Medway Maritime Hospital on Monday.

The plan is to “fast track” patients through A & E to the stroke unit for early treatment.

Each year 490 people suffer a stroke in Medway, and 200 people die because of a stroke.

Stroke nurse consultant Steven Duckworth said: “We believe this new fast-track service will provide an excellent opportunity to improve the care we provide as well as the outcome for patients.”

He said it’s now widely recognised that the debilitating effects of a stroke can often be considerably reduced through emergency treatment such as the use of clot busting drugs.

The new service will closely involve ambulance staff who will alert the hospital when they think a patient has had a stroke before they arrive.

Mr Duckworth said it was vitally important that people who thought they were suffering a stroke should call for an ambulance immediately. “As in the case of a heart attack, every minute counts,” he said.

The stroke team is promoting a quick test, under the acronym FAST, for assessing strokes. The components are:

Facial weakness - can the patient smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?

Arm weakness - can the patient raise both arms?

Speech problems - can the person speak clearly and understand what is being said to them?

Test - for all three symptoms.

If a person fails any of the above, says the team, you should dial 999 for an ambulance.