Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Epping Forest, attended an event in Parliament ahead of World Sepsis Day on Saturday 13th September, supporting the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Sepsis and The UK Sepsis Trust to push for greater awareness of sepsis and its signs.
Sepsis is life-threatening and claims 48,000 lives a year in the UK, among 11 million globally. It is triggered by the immune system’s over-reaction to an infection – which can be viral, bacterial or fungal. Common causes of sepsis include chest infections and UTIs – but any type of infection could lead to sepsis, such as a simple bite or sting.
The event was sponsored by sepsis survivor Mike Wood MP, and Andrew Pakes MP of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sepsis and supported by The UK Sepsis Trust (UKST) who were on hand to brief Parliamentarians on the early symptoms of this ‘killer condition’.
Over 70 MPs and peers attended, including Lord Craig Mackinlay who was left a quadruple amputee after his own battle with sepsis in 2023, all of whom pledged their support for UKST's Sepsis Awareness Month campaign.
The event in Parliament, hosted by members of the APPG on Sepsis, saw Dr Hudson join them and Harry Redknapp, whose wife Sandra experienced Sepsis in 2018, to discuss how people can be made aware of the early signs of sepsis so they can get necessary treatment before the condition becomes life-threatening.
Sepsis has no specific diagnostic test, and the signs and symptoms can vary hugely, making sepsis challenging to diagnose, and it of critical importance that sufferers are treated promptly and appropriately, in turn making awareness of the early signs crucial.
When caught quickly, sepsis is often treatable. Call 111 or contact your GP if you are worried about an infection. If you think you or someone you look after has symptoms of Sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E.
Following the event, Dr Hudson commented:
“I was very pleased to team up with the APPG for Sepsis, The UK Sepsis Trust and Harry Redknapp to show my support for raising awareness of the early signs of sepsis as we approach World Sepsis Day this Saturday 13th September.”
“Sepsis is sadly more common than heart attacks and claims more lives than strokes. It is so important that people know the symptoms, so that they can get the treatment they need before it becomes anywhere near fatal.”
Founder and Chief Medical Officer of The UK Sepsis Trust, Dr Ron Daniels BEM, added:
"Sepsis is an indiscriminate killer that affects 245,000 people in the UK every year. With at least 48,000 people losing their lives annually to sepsis-related illnesses – more than breast, bowel, and prostate cancer combined – the need for action is clear.
"We're so grateful to Dr Neil Hudson MP who has pledged to support our campaign and our work, this September and beyond. Their commitment is crucial in the fight against sepsis, and will help us to raise lifesaving awareness in communities across the UK."
UK Sepsis Trust Ambassador, Harry Redknapp, added:
“In 2018, my wife Sandra developed sepsis from a kidney infection. It was a terrifying experience — but we were lucky. She survived. 48,000 families across the UK aren’t as fortunate.
“That’s why I’ve teamed up with The UK Sepsis Trust to get life-saving information in front of as many people as possible.
“Whoever you cheer for, Team #SepsisSavvy needs your support.”
Photo: L-R: Sepsis survivor Mike Wood MP, UK Sepsis Trust Ambassador Harry Redknapp, Dr Neil Hudson MP, and sepsis survivor Lord Craig Mackinlay
-Notes to Editors-
How to spot sepsis in adults:
- Slurred speech or confusion
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain
- Passing no urine (in a day)
- Severe breathlessness
- It feels like you’re going to die
- Skin mottled or discoloured
Call 999 or visit A&E if you or another adult has one of the sepsis symptoms.
A child may have sepsis if they:
· Are breathing very fast
· Have a ‘fit’ or convulsion
· Look mottled, bluish, or pale – on darker pigmented skin, colour changes may show on the inside of the forearms or palms
· Have a rash that does not fade when you press it
· Are very lethargic or difficult to wake
· Feel abnormally cold to touch
Call 999 or visit A&E if a child has one of the sepsis symptoms.
A child under 5 may have sepsis if they:
· Are not feeding
· Are vomiting repeatedly
· Have not passed urine for 12 hours
Call 999 or visit A&E if a child under 5 has one of the sepsis symptoms.
