A paralysed arm or leg, facial droop or problems speaking, swallowing or seeing

Sudden facial droop, a weak or paralysed arm or leg, or difficulty speaking, understanding, swallowing or seeing may be a stroke or TIA. Do not wait, even if symptoms disappear: note when the person was last without symptoms, give nothing to eat, drink or swallow, and call an ambulance immediately.

• A sudden drooping corner of the mouth, an uneven smile or numbness on one side of the face.
• Sudden weakness, paralysis, numbness or clumsiness of an arm or leg, usually on one side of the body.
• Call Ambulance 912 immediately for sudden loss of neurological function; do not drive yourself or first seek assessment from family, the GP practice or the internet.
• Record exactly when symptoms began or when the person was last seen without loss of function, including if they woke with symptoms.
• For sudden neurological symptoms that are present now or have just disappeared, call Ambulance 912 immediately instead of calling the GP or HAP first.
• For urgent GP care outside normal opening hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediately life-threatening situation.
• Sudden facial droop, a paralysed or numb arm or leg, or difficulty speaking, understanding, swallowing or seeing requires immediate ambulance care, even if there is only one symptom or it resolves quickly.