George marks launch of World Sepsis Day
West Cornwall MP Andrew George has welcomed efforts to tackle the relatively unknown illness, but major killer, Sepsis. He has supported a Parliamentary motion which promotes awareness of the condition.
World Sepsis Day (which took place on 13th September) highlights the illness, which claims the lives of 37,000 people every year in the UK.
It is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s response to an infection damages its own tissues and organs. It can lead to shock, multiple organ failure, and death, especially if it is not recognised early and treated promptly. Sepsis is the leading cause of death from infection around the world and, despite advances in modern medicine like vaccines, antibiotics, and acute care experts believe not enough is being done to save lives.
Speakers at an event in the House of Commons this week included Patrick Kane, a 15-year old school boy who survived Sepsis and who carried the Olympic torch through London in July. He developed Sepsis as a nine month old baby and lost his right leg below the knee and his left lower arm and fingers off his right hand to the disease. He was joined at the speaker’s podium by MPs and Dr. Ron Daniels, Chief Executive of the UK Sepsis Trust.
Mr George said: “While Sepsis may not hit the headlines, it is deadly. If timely interventions, proposed by the UK Sepsis Trust, were adopted across the NHS it could save up to 10,000 lives a year and the NHS money.
“Sepsis should have a much higher profile and be recognised as a medical emergency.”
Dr. Ron Daniels said; “The statistics associated with Sepsis have dramatic implications for global efforts to eliminate disease. Sepsis is a medical emergency and requires a worldwide effort to educate and engage both the general public and political powers, to take steps required to tackle its growing number of victims.”
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