Post-sepsis Syndrome

Lee Anderson, the MP for Ashfield, asked the Minister for Health and Social Care about the adequacy of treatment for post-sepsis syndrome. The Minister, Andrew Gwynne, acknowledged the importance of the issue and the devastating impact that the long-term complications of sepsis can have on patients. He stated that the government is funding research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research to improve outcomes for sepsis survivors. In a follow-up, Anderson highlighted the case of Abbi Hickson from his constituency, who lost both her hands and lower legs due to sepsis. He noted that the local hospital was slow to diagnose her condition and that she is now suffering from various symptoms, which could be post-sepsis syndrome, but has not been advised about this. The Minister agreed that every sepsis patient and survivor should be informed about the condition and offered to meet with Anderson to discuss the issue further. Jim Dickson, the MP for Dartford, then paid tribute to the courage of John Snow, one of his constituents, who has experienced a quadruple amputation due to sepsis. He noted that the Dartford community has rallied around to support John and his family, and he asked the Minister to use this as a spur to improve sepsis treatment across the country. The Minister acknowledged the need for better joined-up care to ensure that those affected by sepsis receive the best possible support. Mike Wood, the MP for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire, raised the issue of inconsistent data on sepsis-related deaths, suggesting that a national registry should be established to track cases and improve performance. The Minister expressed hope that the NHS would be able to address this issue, given the national standards and framework that have been put in place. Finally, Sonia Kumar, the MP for Dudley, highlighted the importance of the work done by allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists and speech and language therapists, in patient care. The Minister agreed that having good-quality staff is crucial to fixing the NHS and providing the best possible care for patients.