A massive shout out to the team on recently receiving the prestigious the World Stroke Campaign Angels Gold Status Award for meeting the highest standards in stroke treatment and care.

The awards were facilitated by the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation were open to regional hospitals participating in the NSW Realising Improvement in StrokE (RISE) Program.

Shoalhaven Hospital Stroke Clinical Nurse Coordinator, Donna Jay., said achieving WSO Gold Status was a testament to the whole of team approach to enhancing stroke care.

"Stroke is a time-critical medical emergency. With each minute that goes by more brain cells can be lost and the risk of disability and death increases. Acting swiftly on the signs of stroke and implementing best practice care requires coordination between ambulance, emergency department, radiology and stroke unit staff," Ms Jay said.

"This has been our priority and it's wonderful to be recognised globally."

"In January we were also thrilled to add the life-saving telehealth service, Telestroke, to our services.

The service is undoubtedly improving outcomes for stroke patients in our region, giving them a much greater chance of surviving and leading a normal life."

How do you know if someone is having a stroke? Think... F.A.S.T.

The Stroke Foundation recommends the F.A.S.T. test as an easy way to remember the most common signs of stroke. Using the F.A.S.T. test involves asking these simple questions:

Face Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?

Arms Can they lift both arms?

Speech Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?

Time Is critical. If you see any of these signs call 000 straight away.

For more information on what you can do while you wait for an ambulance, visit The Stroke Foundation website:https://strokefoundation.org.au/.../What-to-do-while-you...