LOCAL MSP CALLS FOR SUPPORT FOR STROKE AWARENESS PETITION  

The MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane Keith Brown has recently met with the Bundy family, who are campaigning to raise greater awareness for all the symptoms of a stroke. 

The father of the family, Tony Bundy, tragically lost his life in June of this year after suffering a stroke, which in his case did not present with the symptoms within the widely understood act FAST campaign – Face, Arms, Speech and Time. 

In the meeting with their local MSP the family highlighted that the stroke which Tony suffered was not recognised as being a stroke on multiple occasions, including by medical professionals, until it was too late. 

Tony’s family are now campaigning for greater awareness of all symptoms of stroke, including the inability to stand, cold sweats, eyes struggling to focus. The family are advocating for a change from act FAST, to BE FAST – which would include Balance, Eyes and changes the T from time to throwing up. 

It is understood that other countries are using BE FAST, as it allows for the wider range of symptoms to be identified. The American stroke association and Stroke Support India already use BE FAST, and the change is being advocated for by universities and researchers around the world. 

The family has pointed out that academic research has shown that the FAST test can miss up to 40% of posterior circulation strokes – by changing to BE FAST, a wider range of stroke symptoms would be recognised quickly, and hopefully more lives would be saved.

The family have set up a petition to the Scottish Parliament, which calls for the Scottish Parliament to review the FAST campaign – ‘PE2048: Review the FAST stroke awareness campaign’ can be signed by members of the public online and currently sits at just below 900 signatures. 

Keith has committed to supporting the family with their campaign, by sharing their message, and writing to other relevant authorities, encouraging them to consider these proposals. 

Commenting, Clackmannanshire and Dunblane MSP Keith Brown said: 
“I was grateful to have a sit-down discussion with the Bundy family on Monday morning regarding the tragic set of circumstances the family finds themselves in, and to learn more about their campaign to change the existing guidance on identifying the signs of a stroke, in order to ensure that the same misdiagnoses that happened in Tony’s case do not happen again.  

“I would urge you to read the families petition and to consider signing it to show your support for this cause.”

Tony’s son, Cllr. James Bundy, said:  

“I would like to thank Keith Brown for supporting my family’s petition. Increasing awareness of all symptoms of stroke goes beyond party politics. Receiving support from all sides of the political spectrum highlights this. 

“Please do consider signing and sharing my family’s petition. It is imperative that we remember to BE FAST to save lives.”

The petition can be found here: Review the FAST stroke awareness campaign – Petitions (parliament.scot)