EAST Lancashire’s hospitals will mark World Stroke Day by helping showcase research into the disease.

As part of the National Institute for Health Research and North West Stroke Research Network, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust will take part in an event at Wigan’s DW Stadium on Tuesday.

Stroke survivors and members of the general public have been invited to attend.

Meanwhile, the trust is keen to raise awareness of how stroke can be beaten with speedy treatment.

Jamie Walford, stroke research nurse at the trust, said: “The faster a stroke patient receives treatment, the better their chances are of surviving and reducing long-term disability.

“The warning signs of a stroke can be identified with the help of the FAST test - Face, Arm, Speech and Time to call 999.

“If a patient’s face falls on one side, or they cannot lift both arms and keep them there, or they have slurred speech, it is important to call 999 quickly as time is of the essence in treating a stroke patient.

“FAST is a simple test to help people to recognise the signs of stroke and understand the importance of emergency treatment.”

The event in Wigan is free and you can book your place by emailing Pamela.halsam@nhs.net or calling 0161 206 2018. You can also ring this number for information about the trust’s patient, care and public involvement groups, which offer stroke survivors the opportunity to give researchers their opinion on future projects.