Tony Bundy family launch petition to update stroke campaign

Tony Bundy’s relatives are appealing for Holyrood to update the FAST guidance to BE FAST.

Under current guidelines, the nationwide stroke campaign urges people to spot the signs of a stroke – including face, arms, speech, time.

However, the Bundy family are now calling for balance and eyes to be added ahead of FAST to allow for more people to be saved.

“My dad’s life was ended prematurely,” Tony’s son James Bundy said. “By adding two letters to Scotland’s stroke awareness campaign, we can detect more strokes earlier.

“This simple step can save lives. To get this change, we need your support. We need to show the Scottish Government that there is public support for BE FAST.

“You can show your support by signing and sharing our petition.”

Tony passed away in June 2023 after suffering a stroke when out shopping in Glasgow.

He suddenly became unwell, losing the ability to stand, struggling to focus, suffering cold sweats and was vomiting.

The family have produced graphics urging the change to BE FAST. (Image: Bundy Family)

While an ambulance was called, it was not immediately dispatched due to Tony not displaying any of the well-recognised symptoms of a stroke.

He was taken to hospital, but his family state he was “left in an A&E corridor for over five and a half hours before his fatal stroke struck”.

His wife, Selena Bundy, said: “When Tony fell seriously unwell, I was aware of the FAST campaign.

“Naively, I thought a drooped face, arms struggling to be raised and slurred speech were the only symptoms of stroke.

“While extremely worried that Tony was unwell, I took some comfort that the medics ruled out stroke.

“How false this comfort was.

“If I was aware that there were more symptoms of stroke, I would have been much more vocal for Tony to get the tests he needed.

“But I wasn’t vocal, and I feel much pain and regret. This will never leave me.”

Since then, the Bundy family have been campaigning for better stroke awareness, successfully persuading the Scottish Government to review the guidelines.

They had meetings with Neil Gray, cabinet secretary for health, and Jenni Minto, minister for public health, which led to the government launching the review.

READ MORE: Bundy family campaign for Scottish Government review of strokes

Now, the family want to go one step further, introducing real change to ensure the public is better equipped to recognise strokes.

Selena continued: “I don’t want other families in Scotland going through the pain my family and I are suffering.

“If people knew more symptoms of stroke, they would know what to do when their loved one fell ill.

“If the test used to detect strokes was broader, more strokes would be detected earlier by medical staff.

“By adding two simple letters to Scotland’s stroke awareness campaign, we can save lives. Help make this simple, life-saving change by signing our BE FAST petition today.”

The Bundy family petition can be found here.