Speaking from personal and professional experience, as a devoted stroke nurse, I've bared witness to the regrettable fate of countless patients who arrive at the hospital outside of the critical 4 1/2 hour window for administering thrombolysis, the gold standard treatment for acute ischaemic stroke. All too often, these same patients are forced to wait to be transferred to other trusts for a thrombectomy, as the ambulance service does not deem a stroke as a life-threatening event. It is truly heart-wrenching to see so many patients left to battle life-long disabilities, and in some cases, lose their lives due to these extended wait times.

Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide and yet, despite the severity of this disease, the categorization of stroke for ambulance services remains at Category 2. This categorization does not reflect the emergency nature of a stroke event. We know that 'Time is Brain' when it comes to stroke treatment. For every minute delay in treating a stroke, the patient loses about 1.9 million neurons, affecting their recovery and quality of life (National Stroke Association, 2006). Furthermore, the Lancet Neurology (2017) reported that patients who receive thrombolysis within 90 minutes of onset have a 26% greater chance of a better outcome.

We must demand an urgent change. The time to act is now. We plead for the reclassification of ambulance services for stroke patients from Category 2 to Category 1 – recognizing it as the life-threatening condition it truly is. This revision in categorization can save lives, reduce disability, and improve recovery outcomes.

Let us bring about this much-needed change in the system. Advocate for better care for stroke patients. Sign the petition. Let's save lives together.