Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to run a public awareness campaign to improve the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation.

Public Health England (PHE) has recently run a Be Clear on Cancer campaign to raise awareness of respiratory symptoms, including breathlessness, which can be a symptom of Atrial Fibrillation.

The campaign aimed to encourage those with inappropriate breathlessness or a persistent cough lasting three weeks or more to go and see their general practitioner.

PHE also manages the Act FAST campaign to raise awareness of the signs of a stroke and encourage people to call 999 immediately, so that those experiencing a stroke get to hospital as soon as possible. People seen within three hours have a better chance of recovery and reduced disability. The campaign focuses on the FAST acronym that helps people to recognise the signs of stroke and understand the importance of emergency treatment. Atrial Fibrillation is one of the most common forms of abnormal heart rhythm and a major cause of stroke.