Jaclyn Birnie lives in Armidale and ensures that everyone across the Northern Tablelands gets help from the Armidale Hospital and associated services following a stroke. She has been doing this job for five years, and before that, she was a physiotherapist focusing on stroke rehabilitation. She says the most significant impact on someone's recovery success is how quickly they receive medical attention.

"How long it takes someone to recover is hugely variable depending on the type and size of stroke and how quickly they get to hospital," Ms Birnie said. "When a person is suffering from a stroke they are losing more than 1.9 million brain cells each minute, and the longer a stroke remains untreated, the greater the chance of stroke-related brain damage."

This brain damage can affect the victim's speech, movement down one side, facial droop, or swallowing.

"Basically their ability to return to how they were before the stroke," Ms Birnie said. "Even if a person does have some brain damage after a stroke, there is a possibility of returning to normal function with rehabilitation."

Ms Birnie thrives on supporting the patient and their family through their stroke journey, from the emergency department, through the hospital stay and rehabilitation, and return to the community.

"I work with exceptional staff at hospitals in the Armidale and tablelands communities to ensure that the right patient gets to the right location at the right time," Ms Birnie said. "Outside of Hunter New England Local Health District, other organisations also play a crucial role in the stroke patient's journey from Ambulance NSW to GPs and the Stroke Foundation."

It is challenging but also extremely rewarding to be in a role that covers a large geographical area Ms Birnie finds but spreading the FAST stroke message is her biggest concern.

"Stroke is a medical emergency and should be treated as urgently as a cardiac problem," she said. "People should not delay calling 000 and getting to hospital if they suspect or experience any stroke symptoms."

Think of the word F.A.S.T and ask these questions if you suspect a stroke: Face - Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?; Arms - Can they lift both arms?; Speech - Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?; Time - Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call triple zero (000) straight away.

The other concern Ms Birnie has is the misconception that stroke only happens to the elderly.

"In 2020, 24 percent of first-ever strokes occurred in people aged 54 years and under," Ms Birnie said.

"We are seeing more stroke patients in their 40s, 50s and even younger in our local communities. Have regular health checks with your GP and find out how to lower your stroke risk."