A campaign group calling for the rollout of a nationwide public health campaign to raise awareness of sepsis and post-sepsis syndrome is holding what has been described as a landmark meeting with the Minister for Health.
Members of the North East Sepsis Awareness (NESA) group alongside sepsis survivor, 15-year-old Sophie Lanigan and her parents Laura and Keith, are meeting Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill at Leinster House this afternoon.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to infection. Ireland records thousands of sepsis cases every year.
Post-sepsis syndrome refers to the long-term physical, cognitive, and psychological effects experienced by a significant proportion of sepsis survivors.
"Sophie’s a sepsis survivor; she got sick in 2022 and in January 2023 she lost her four limbs.
"What we’re here today for is to meet the minister, spread awareness for sepsis and to fight for treatment, aftercare and so people understand what sepsis is, how to recognise the symptoms and how to seek urgent help," her dad Keith said.
Keith said in relation to post-sepsis syndrome, there can be different aspects of the condition for different people, both physical and mental.
"Sepsis is not just a thing you get rid of. Sepsis is a thing that people can have, physical or psychological, for the rest of their lives," he added.
Over a year ago, Caithriona Flanagan and Hannah Tormey, from Co Cavan, founded NESA, a volunteer patient advocacy group supporting sepsis survivors and families in the northeast.
Both their lives have been affected by sepsis and post-sepsis syndrome, with Ms Flanagan losing her mother and Ms Tormey’s daughter having survived the condition.
"I lost my mother, she was only 60 years old, in 2018, she was gone in 24 hours," Ms Flanagan said.
"She displayed flu-like symptoms, and she was a very fit and healthy lady, and she died from sepsis."
Ms Tormey’s daughter developed sepsis from a UTI in 2017 and ended up in hospital for a long period. She experienced reoccurring infections and was in and out of hospital for 18 months afterwards.
"Thankfully she’s doing really well now, but has post-sepsis syndrome - sometimes weakness in the legs, bad memory, tired, nauseous - there are a lot of symptoms but they’re not really recognised or spoken about enough," she said.
Both women are now calling for a national campaign to raise awareness across Ireland as well as post-sepsis clinics for everybody who has recovered so they have support.
Ms Flanagan added: "Early intervention is key, getting your loved one in as soon as any of the signs are seen, to get them into (hospital) quickly is paramount."
The group were hosted at Leinster House by Minister of State Niamh Smyth who facilitated the meeting with Minister Carroll MacNeill.
It is seen as a significant step in the campaign to secure formal recognition of post-sepsis syndrome within the Irish healthcare system.
Minister Smyth said: "These ladies have experienced firsthand the detrimental and fatal impact that sepsis can have on families.
"These wonderful ladies have been campaigning right across county Cavan at a community level to heighten the awareness around sepsis.
"Sepsis ultimately kills and kills people very quickly."
For young Sophie, the message is clear: "Learn the signs and symptoms of sepsis to help save lives."
