Christina Rees, Member of Parliament for Neath, has been newly elected as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sepsis. In a well-attended Parliamentary meeting in March, Christina was unanimously elected to Chair the Group which campaigns for sepsis awareness in parliament and the UK, thereby replacing incumbent Chair Cheryl Gillan MP.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that claims the lives of at least 44,000 people every year in the UK. The cross-party group work to raise awareness of a condition that kills more people than breast cancer, bowel cancer, prostate cancer and road accidents combined.
Sepsis arises 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 and antibiotics, acute care experts believe not enough is being done to save lives.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sepsis was launched in 2013 to provide a medium through which Parliamentarians, organisations and those affected by Sepsis can discuss the current provision for the illness, promote public understanding and advocate for simple, timely interventions to be implemented as standard across the NHS.
Christina Rees MP, who herself has suffered from sepsis on two occasions, thanked Cheryl Gillan MP for all her hard work as Chair of the Group to date and spoke of her excitement in becoming the Group’s new Chair. She said she is keen to include work in all of the devolved nations moving forward to raise awareness of sepsis across the United Kingdom.