 Public Health Coventry, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW) and The Sepsis Trust have teamed up to create a month of awareness-raising about Sepsis.
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. Every year approximately 260,000 cases of sepsis are diagnosed in the UK and around 44,000 people die every year from the condition. 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 University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, 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.
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.”
Sepsis can affect anyone, but older people, the very young, and those with lowered immunity are at higher risk, as are people who have had recent surgery/procedures, cuts in the skin, people who misuse substances, people with a catheter or other line, and pregnant women/those who have just given birth. Symptoms in adults can include:
- Slurred speech/confusion
- Extreme shivering/muscle pain
- Passing no/little urine
- Severe breathlessness
- It feels like you are going to die
- Skin being mottled or discoloured.
Symptoms in children can be different. For more information and to know what to do if you are concerned about yourself, a family member or friend, please see: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/
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 SeeAbility in Partnership with Grapevine and NHS England are holding a free event for adults with learning disabilities and their carers who want to learn more about looking after their eyes and how or where to get their eyes tested.
What will you learn at a Look Here Event:
- Understand why eye care is so important
- Practice what happens at the eye test
- Practice wearing glasses
- Practice cleaning glasses
- Learn about eye problems for people with a learning disability
- Experience what is it like for people who can’t see well
- Practice using other senses
- Look at equipment and support for people who can’t see well
The event will be held on Wednesday 27 March at the Welcome Centre from 10am - 3pm. Tickets can be booked at SeeAbility.
For more information about the day contact Stephen Kill s.kill@seeability.org.
The next Carers' Coffee Morning for carers of adults with learning disabilities will return to Central Library in May with guest speakers attending from the Acute Liaison team based at UHCW.
This will be an opportunity for carers to discuss the support available for adults with learning disabilities when they go into hospital and the support they may receive when accessing the GP or other health interventions.
The next session will be held on Wednesday 16 May 2018 at 10.30 - Central Library.
If you look after someone, and are aged 18 and over, the carers' on-line self-assessment is your chance to tell us about your caring role, your needs as a carer and the things you think will help.
The carers' online self-assessment is now live. Carers can now log in through the website and complete their assessment online, you can save it as you go along and go back to it when you have the time.
When the assessment is complete an advisor will contact you from the Carers Trust Heart of England, they will talk through your assessment, give advice and information.
The online self-assessment is just another way in which you can have your needs assessed as a carer. If you feel you would benefit from talking through the assessment with someone please contact Adult Social Care Direct on 024 7683 3003.
It’s simple! Just
add your email address in the top right hand corner and click GO!
You can also sign up or
view previous bulletins from our Carers' website.
If you have any comments
or wish to contribute something to the next bulletin, please let us know by
contacting us at carers@coventry.gov.uk.
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