Stroke awareness campaign announced

LONDON (Reuters) - A 12 million pound campaign to raise awareness about the symptoms of stroke will be launched next year, the government said on Friday.

Stroke, the loss of brain function due to a blood clot or bleed in the brain, is the third leading cause of death in Britain and the largest cause of adult disability in England.

Last August a senior doctor, Professor Hugh Markus from St George's University of London, said studies showed that Britain had the worst outcome for stroke victims in western Europe.

The three-year campaign, which will begin in February, is part of the government's National Stroke Strategy which was introduced to shake-up stroke care as a response to the criticism.

Studies have shown that treating minor strokes quickly can greatly reduce the chance of a major stroke later.

"This campaign will give people a better understanding of stroke and the importance of fast treatment so that more lives can be saved and more long-term disabilities prevented," said Health Minister Ann Keen.

"We want to build on this progress by helping the public to recognise the symptoms of stroke and dial 999 quickly."

The campaign, which will involve posters in doctors' surgeries and adverts in the media, aims to make the public and NHS staff better aware of the need to act quickly when they suspect someone has suffered a stroke.

"It's important to remember that the faster a stroke patient receives emergency treatment, the better their chances are of surviving and avoiding long-term disability," said Professor Roger Boyle, National Director for Heart Disease and Stroke.