I was concerned to hear from a constituent recently about her experience with sepsis. She fell ill with sepsis in Spring last year and is, devastatingly, still suffering from the effects. She tells me that her life has altered dramatically.
She needs a CPAP machine to breathe at night and will need to use it for the rest of her life. She has post-sepsis syndrome, where she has extreme fatigue and is unable to return to her previous job. Apparently 40% of people who develop sepsis are estimated to suffer physical, cognitive and/or psychological after-effects, so she is one of many suffering in silence.
She tells me that people often think nothing is wrong with her as she ‘looks fine’, but post-sepsis syndrome includes extreme fatigue and a number of physiological and physical symptoms. Muscle pain, poor sleep, short-term memory loss and arrhythmia (when the heart beats in an irregular rhythm) are all symptoms that can last well beyond the acute phase of the illness. For my constituent, the lack of understanding about her condition from others leaves her feeling even more fatigued and misunderstood.
Sepsis is one of the least well-known medical conditions, and the number one cause of preventable death in the world. It’s tricky to diagnose and can manifest in different ways depending on a number of factors, part of the reason why it’s so hard to spot. But, having heard about the horrendous experience of my constituent, I’ve been making myself more aware of the condition and wanted to share what I’ve learned.
What is sepsis?
I was shocked to hear that sepsis kills an estimated 48,000 people a year in the UK. According to NHS England, sepsis claims more lives than lung cancer and is the second biggest killer after cardiovascular disease. The UK Sepsis Trust states that sepsis causes 5 deaths every hour in the UK.
Sepsis happens as a result of the immune system overreacting to an infection in your body, with the immune system beginning to attack the organs and tissues. It can lead to septic shock and, without proper treatment, can lead to organ failure, tissue damage and death. About 40% of sepsis survivors experience life-changing effects to their physical or mental health, such as limb amputation.
Sepsis requires urgent hospital treatment and is treated through antibiotics. It is hugely concerning that the number of deaths in England and Wales where sepsis was the underlying cause has risen from 2,630 in 2018 to 4,276 in 2023, an increase of 63%.
The risk of sepsis developing can be prevented by keeping open wounds clean, taking antibiotics correctly if prescribed, and washing hands regularly. Sepsis is life-threatening and it can be hard to spot as there are lots of possible symptoms, and these symptoms can be similar to other conditions, including flu or a chest infection.
In Parliament
In Parliament, MPs have raised awareness of sepsis through debates and questions. A particularly powerful account was given by Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay, who revealed that he had all his limbs amputated because of the condition, with doctors at one point giving him only a 5% chance of survival.
In a desperately sad and now well-known story, 13-year-old Martha Mills died in 2021 after developing sepsis in hospital, where she had been admitted with a pancreatic injury after falling off her bike. This tragic case led to ‘Martha’s Rule’ coming into force, allowing patients, families, and carers to request an urgent review if they are concerned about a patient’s condition. It also significantly raised public awareness of the dangers of sepsis.
What I’m doing
After hearing my constituent’s story, I wrote to the Government to ask what it being done nationally to help. I was pleased with the response from Minister Andrew Gwynne, who said that the Government is focused on improving the clinical awareness and recognition of sepsis by healthcare professionals, so that unwell and deteriorating patients are identified more promptly and started on life-saving treatment sooner.
The Minister went on to say that that NHS England has launched several training programmes aimed at improving the diagnosis and early management of sepsis. This should really help the situation on the ground in hospitals.
I have also written to the local NHS Trust about what they are doing to help reduce sepsis and to raise awareness.
I’ll continue to push for more action on sepsis awareness and for more research to be undertaken so that, ultimately, we can ensure less people suffer from it.
Symptoms of sepsis
Please see below for the NHS list of sepsis symptoms, so that you can protect yourself and and your loved ones.
Call 999 or go to A&E if a baby or young child has any of these symptoms of sepsis:
- blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
- a weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
- not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
- being sleepier than normal or difficult to wake
Call 999 or go to A&E if an adult or older child has any of these symptoms of sepsis:
- acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
- blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
For more information about the condition, there are several excellent charities with lots of resources available, including UK Sepsis Trust and Sepsis Research FEAT.
Get in touch
If you have any questions or concerns about this issue or anything else, or perhaps you have your own story to share, please do not hesitate to contact me on satvir.kaur.mp@parliament.uk or call me on 02382 546 357.