Strokes are one of the most widespread causes of severe illness today, with two or three patients admitted to Bradford Royal Infirmary suffering from suspected strokes every single day.

Severe strokes can and do prove fatal, but thanks to the efforts of a team at BRI, more and more people are surviving them, and huge leaps and bounds have been made in their care while they are in hospital.

The figures are amazing – thanks to the dedicated stroke unit at BRI, patients are 30 per cent less likely to die and 30 per cent more likely to gain their independence after suffering a stroke.

As the team has proved, swift action really does make all the difference. Where once a stroke could leave someone dead or, at best, requiring round-the-clock care, now the intervention of the Bradford department can mean there is more and more chance of recovery.

There has been a huge campaign to increase public awareness about strokes, with advertisements and campaigns encouraging us all to spot the signs of a stroke. Time is of the essence when dealing with strokes – for every minute treatment is delayed, 1.9 million brain cells are lost.

With the combination of more public awareness of the need for speed when someone is suspected of having a stroke, and the pioneering new work being carried out at Bradford Royal Infirmary by the Acute Stroke and Neurology Team, a stroke is now not necessarily the life – or death – sentence that it used to be.

But we must all remain vigilant and watch for the signs of stroke in people around us, and hope that the team at BRI is allowed to build on their excellent work even further.