ETS 2026 Content

In this session, Joe Dent explores stroke recognition from the traditional FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) assessment through to the subtle and posterior presentations it can miss. The session opens with FAST as a simple, rapid screening tool for identifying the more common presentations of stroke, to the critical importance of time in initiating urgent care and supporting early decision-making in out-of-hospital environments. It then builds on these principles to examine atypical stroke presentations, particularly posterior circulation strokes, where symptoms such as balance disturbance, visual changes and non-specific neurological deficits may go undetected by FAST alone.

Through a clinically focused, practical lens, the session highlights the need for better and more comprehensive education in stroke recognition, helping clinicians understand the limitations of traditional screening tools and recognise the wider range of possible presentations.