THE NHS in Coventry wants to create an awareness campaign about the dangers of Sepsis.
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW) has teamed up with The Sepsis Trust to raise the profile of the serious illness.
They want to create a month of awareness-raising about Sepsis throughout February.
Every year approximately 260,000 cases of sepsis are diagnosed in the UK and around 44,000 people die every year from the condition.
Sepsis is a rare but serious complication of an infection.
Sepsis causes the body’s immune system to go into overdrive as it tries to fight infection.
This can reduce blood supply to vital organs like the brain, heart and kidneys.
Unless treated quickly, sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure and death.
As part of the campaign, Public Health and UHCW have created a series of short films “Sepsis and Me”, talking about the condition, signs and symptoms and the effects it can have.
The films also feature the story of a Coventry resident and the devastating effect Sepsis had on him and his family.
The campaign in Coventry has been established with the Sepsis team at UCHW, who were the first in the country to work together with The Sepsis Trust to provide a post-sepsis support group.
The Sepsis team hold quarterly community group events at the Ricoh arena for those affected by Sepsis to meet and talk about their experiences and to also raise awareness of the condition.
The campaign comes after West Midlands Ambulance Service announced 47 new ambulances entering service at the end of last year will carry information about the condition.
Dr Nadia Inglis, Public Health consultant at Coventry City Council has said: “It’s really important for us to create an awareness of the impact a whole range of different types of infections can have, and so the work we are doing to raise awareness of Sepsis is so important.
“Although Sepsis can be caused by a range of infections, it leads to higher death rates each year than heart attacks, strokes and chronic lung disease.
“I urge those who don’t know much about the condition to find out what they can and be aware of signs and symptoms that can affect those who are at risk of Sepsis.
“I also encourage people to support the Sepsis and Me Campaign so that we can get Coventry talking more about Sepsis.”
For more information please see: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/
