A GRIEVING family have hit out at the Scottish Government for failing to adopt changes in care they are petitioning for after their dad’s tragic death.
Tony Bundy passed away after a stroke was not detected early enough by medics at Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary.
The 53-year-old was out shopping with his wife Selena when he suddenly started to struggle with his balance, became unable to focus his eyes, developed cold sweats, and began vomiting.
As he wasn’t showing the stereotypical symptoms of a stroke, known as FAST, an ambulance wasn’t dispatched, but as his symptoms worsened he was rushed to A&E, where he spent five and half hours waiting in a corridor before suffering a Basilar Artery Ischaemic Stroke
Tony was rushed to a specialist unit at the Queen Elizabeth University hospital in Govan and put on life support, but his condition proved fatal and he passed away on June 29 last year.
Speaking exclusively to the Glasgow Times, his devastated son James told how the family pleaded with medics to act to save his dad’s life.
The 27-year-old said: “Dad was very fit and active. He had been feeling unwell for a few weeks but was reassured after seeking medical advice from his GP, so we never thought something like this would happen.
“He was shopping for glasses at a store in Springburn with my mum when he suddenly became unwell. His balance was off, he couldn’t focus and started experiencing cold sweats and vomiting. Thankfully, a first aider at the store recognised that something was seriously wrong.
“She called for an ambulance, but because my dad’s symptoms were not tying up with typical stroke signs, an ambulance wasn’t initially dispatched. However, he got worse, and the decision was made to send paramedics to the store and he was blue lighted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary.”
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James said the family suffered further anguish when reaching the hospital.
He added: “We were obviously extremely concerned as dad was kept waiting in a corridor for over five and half hours while medics carried out tests. Again, they ruled out a stroke or heart issues.
“Then dad suffered a massive stroke and the decision was made to transfer him to a specialist unit where he was put on life support. We feel we lost precious time to save his life because he suffered a Basilar Artery Ischaemic Stroke - which has different symptoms to more common types.”
Tony’s symptoms did not follow the set FAST – Face, Arms, Speech and Time – guidelines and now James and his family want those warning signs updated to BE FAST to include “balance” and “eyes”.
The family have now launched a petition in a bid to stop others going through the same heartache.
James, along with mum Selena and family members Anthea Bundy, from Glasgow and Christine McGeachin, who teaches at a school on city’s Southside, subsequently succeeded in getting the Scottish Government to review the country’s stroke awareness campaign. But the Bundy family want to go further and are calling on the Scottish Government to update its stroke awareness campaign in a move they say will save countless lives.
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The family, which has secured cross-party political support for its campaign, are also calling on the public to sign.
James, who works as a Conservative Party councillor, added: “A stroke being ruled out meant that dad was prevented ‘proactive’ or ‘fast’ treatment, which ultimately cost him his life.
“It is unacceptable for the Scottish Government to continue with the status quo, knowing that it is resulting in stories like my dad’s, when there is a ready-made alternative in the form of BE FAST.”
Tony’s wife Selena added: “If I was aware that there were more symptoms of stroke, I would have been much more vocal for Tony to get the attention he needed. But I wasn’t, and I feel so much pain and regret, and that will never leave me.
“I don’t want other families in Scotland going through the same needless suffering. If people knew more about the wide range of symptoms that can accompany a stroke, they would know what to do when a loved one falls ill. If the test used to detect strokes was broader, more would be found faster by medical staff.”
The Bundy family meeting Health Secretary Neil Gray (Image: supplied)
Health Secretary Neil Gray told the Glasgow Times his sympathies lie with Tony’s relatives but would not comment on whether Holyrood is willing to review currently guidelines.
He added: “I want to extend my deepest condolences to the Bundy family. The Scottish Government is guided by the 2023 National Clinical Guideline for Stroke, which encouraged more evidence on screening for non-FAST stroke symptoms and more research into improving public awareness of symptoms.
“This position is supported by both Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland and Stroke Association.”
A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde added: "While we cannot discuss individual patient cases for reasons of confidentiality, we would once again like to express our deepest sympathy to this family.
"Our services follow national guidelines and we fully support Scottish Government initiatives which aim to improve stroke symptom awareness.
"We have also engaged in further staff education on stroke symptoms"
Click here to sign the petition.
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