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World Sepsis Day
13 September 2023
Lead MP
Christina Rees
Neath
Lab
Responding Minister
Maria Caulfield
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Word Count: 4017
Other Contributors: 4
At a Glance
Christina Rees raised concerns about world sepsis day in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
I urge the Minister to meet me along with representatives from the UK Sepsis Trust to discuss setting up a national sepsis register. Additionally, I ask when the updated NICE clinical guideline on sepsis (NG51) will be published and for an update on the Health Secretary's announcement about exploring Martha's rule.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that claims around 48,000 lives annually in the UK, more than breast, bowel and prostate cancer combined. The prevalence of sepsis cases reported each year is approximately 240,000, with roughly 40% of survivors experiencing long-term physical or cognitive after-effects. Despite efforts to improve public awareness and early detection through campaigns and training for healthcare workers, there remain many preventable deaths due to delayed diagnosis.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Emphasised that sepsis claims 11 million lives globally each year, more than deaths from bowel, breast and prostate cancer combined. In Northern Ireland, sepsis affects around 7,000 people yearly, with 1,240 losing their lives in 2021.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Stressed the importance of introducing Martha's law to grant parents a second opinion when they request it for better treatment and management, referencing a personal case where a teenager lost his life despite displaying symptoms. Rachael Maskell highlighted the need to empower patients with a second opinion request, as proposed by Martha's law, and acknowledged Christina Rees's point on public awareness campaigns. She also mentioned the tragic case of William Mead whose family received an apology from Jeremy Hunt after a report found that clinicians missed four opportunities to save his life. In the light of the fact that people suffering from sepsis can rapidly deteriorate, will the Minister ensure that a review of a patient could also be undertaken really quickly, without it becoming a bureaucratic process?
Sarah Owen
Lab
Luton North
Highlighted that one in five global deaths are attributed to sepsis, occurring every 2.8 seconds worldwide due to lack of access to medical treatment, advocating for increased public and clinical awareness.
Seema Malhotra
Lab Co-op
Feltham and Heston
Paid tribute to the hon. Friend's courage in raising awareness about sepsis, highlighting the importance of recognising symptoms early and commending the UK Sepsis Trust for its support.
Government Response
Maria Caulfield
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Fovargue. I start by thanking the hon. Member for Neath (Christina Rees) for introducing this important debate on World Sepsis Day. The Minister acknowledged the devastating impact of sepsis and highlighted efforts to improve its recognition and treatment. She supported the Health Secretary's announcement to explore the introduction of Martha's rule, similar to Ryan's rule in Queensland, Australia, aimed at facilitating clinical reviews when patients or families raise concerns about deteriorating conditions. The Government is also working on updating national guidance on sepsis based on recommendations from medical royal colleges and NICE. With over £1 billion a year committed through the National Institute of Health and Care Research for research studies, the Minister highlighted funding for 14 projects since 2017 with a combined total value of £27 million. She also discussed the critical importance of conserving antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance linked to sepsis, noting collaboration across the UK and international efforts to address this global challenge.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.