Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Sepsis Awareness

09 October 2024 · 9 other contributors · 8,253 words

Opened by Lee Anderson Reform Ashfield

Responding minister: Andrew Gwynne

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Lee Anderson raised concerns about sepsis awareness in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Sepsis is the number one cause of preventable death globally, claiming around 48,500 lives annually in the UK.
  • Lee Anderson calls for a national campaign to raise awareness about sepsis symptoms and the importance of early treatment.
  • NHS England plans to roll out Martha's rule across 143 hospital sites by March next year to empower patients and families to seek a second opinion.

Key requests to Government

Lee Anderson calls for a national campaign to raise awareness about sepsis symptoms and the importance of early treatment. He believes that educating hospitals, schools, social media platforms, and TV channels can significantly reduce deaths from sepsis by ensuring timely administration of antibiotics.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Lee Anderson Reform Ashfield

Sepsis is one of the least well-known medical conditions and the No. 1 cause of preventable death in the world, claiming approximately 48,500 lives annually in the UK and costing the NHS between £1.5 billion and £2 billion per year. Lee Anderson highlights a case study involving Abbi, who was severely affected by sepsis leading to multiple organ failures, amputations, and near-death experiences. He also mentions other constituents like Karen, Neil, Pam, Shirley, and Craig Mackinlay's wife, each with varying degrees of impact due to delayed or proper diagnosis.

Other contributors (9)
  • Alison Bennett Lib Dem Mid Sussex

    Alison Bennett highlighted the progress in sepsis awareness among healthcare professionals and the public but stressed that more needs to be done regarding diagnostic testing, investment in hospital equipment, and addressing inadequate facilities for maternal care. She also discussed the challenges posed by increased demand for ambulances and called for improvements in response times and access to best practice care around the clock.

  • Caroline Johnson Con Sleaford and North Hykeham

    She thanked Abbi for raising awareness about the difficulties faced in getting immediate care for sepsis. She highlighted that sepsis kills nearly 50,000 people annually in the UK and commended the previous government's efforts to improve public and clinical awareness. Johnson asked what steps the Government will take to work with NHS England and patient groups like the UK Sepsis Trust to raise public awareness further.

  • Graham Leadbitter SNP Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey

    Mr Leadbitter shared the story of his colleague Richard Lochhead who survived severe sepsis following flu-like symptoms. He highlighted that in Grampian, Highland and Islands alone, one person dies almost every day from sepsis, with more than 2,200 patients needing ward treatment annually.

  • Helen Grant Con Maidstone and Malling

    Congratulates the hon. Gentleman on securing the debate, agreeing that sharing stories of those affected by sepsis helps highlight the importance of early recognition and diagnosis.

  • James McMurdock Ind South Basildon and East Thurrock

    Mr McMurdock shared a personal story about his wife nearly suffering from sepsis, highlighting the importance of education and awareness to catch it early. He thanked Abbi for sharing her experience and praised the staff at Basildon University Hospital.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Mr Shannon commended Lee Anderson for raising sepsis awareness, stating that five people in the UK die from sepsis each hour. He highlighted a lack of recovery protocols in Northern Ireland and suggested the need for a UK-wide strategy to address the issue.

  • Mike Wood Con Kingswinford and South Staffordshire

    Mr. Wood shared his personal experience with sepsis, highlighting the life-threatening nature of the condition and its under-recognition in healthcare settings. He mentioned that around 48,000 people die from sepsis annually in the UK and emphasised the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. He called for better data reporting to track cases accurately and stressed the need for reliable diagnostics and increased public awareness.

  • Richard Tice Reform Boston and Skegness

    Mr Tice shared his friend's near-death experience with sepsis, emphasizing its preventability through better awareness among healthcare professionals and patients. He suggested a major publicity campaign to ask the simple question, 'Could it be sepsis?'

  • Robin Swann UUP South Antrim

    Mr Swann acknowledged the work of Abbi and highlighted that while health is devolved, there are areas where a national approach could be beneficial for sepsis awareness. He noted that in Northern Ireland, efforts to raise awareness have been limited, but there has been research published by Sepsis Research FEAT which identifies top 10 priorities for future sepsis treatment and care.

Government Response

Andrew Gwynne

It is good to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Christopher. I welcome new Members to the House with a clear interest in public health and prevention matters. I thank the hon. Member for Ashfield (Lee Anderson) for securing this important debate on sepsis awareness, highlighting the story of his constituent Abbi. Sepsis is a devastating condition; NHS England will roll out Martha's rule across 143 hospital sites by March next year to empower patients and their families to seek a second opinion or rapid review if they are concerned about deterioration in their condition. Specific sepsis training resources for clinical and non-clinical staff have been developed, and guidelines were updated earlier this year to improve recognition, diagnosis and early management of suspected sepsis. Physical rehabilitation is crucial post-sepsis, focusing on individual goals and quality of life improvement. NHS England ran a financial incentive scheme last year to encourage the use of the national early warning score (NEWS) to identify unwell or deteriorating patients, with several trusts rolling out the national paediatric early warning score to ensure recognition in children. Over £19.7 million has been invested by the National Institute for Health and Care Research on sepsis research projects. The Government are focused on tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through a five-year national action plan, given its reliance on effective antibiotics. Awareness of sepsis is increasing, but we should continue to educate and inform people about it. I will work with the hon. Member for Ashfield and colleagues across devolved Administrations to ensure continued support.

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