Patient advocacy group holds talks with government to give formal recognition of post-sepsis syndrome

Government officials met with North East Sepsis Awareness to seek formal recognition of post-sepsis syndrome in Ireland’s healthcare system. The talks, facilitated by Minister of State Niamh Smyth at Leinster House, aimed to establish structured follow-up care for the increasing number of sepsis survivors. The delegation included sepsis survivor Sophie Lanigan and her mother Laura Keith, whose experience emphasized the lasting aftermath of sepsis. Smyth said survivors and families deserve proper recognition and care long after leaving hospital. The meeting was described as a landmark moment for public awareness and for understanding why early detection and escalation of care are critical. Mentions included Sinead O’Reilly, who spoke about losing her sister-in-law Sarah to sepsis in 2022, and Professor Steve Kerrigan and Ciarán Staunton.

"Government bosses have held talks with a patient advocacy group with a view to securing formal recognition of post-sepsis syndrome within the Irish healthcare system. Minister of State and Cavan-Monaghan TD Niamh Smyth facilitated the talks with officials from North East Sepsis Awareness at Leinster House on Wednesday in a move aimed at also establishing structured follow-up care for the growing number of sepsis survivors across Ireland."

"Ms Smyth said the talks followed a series of "deeply moving" and harrowing stories that had been relayed to her first hand by those affected by the life-threatening condition. "Sepsis survivors and their families deserve proper recognition and care long after they leave hospital," she said. The Cavan native hailed the efforts of those aligned to the advocacy group and said the meeting which also involved Health Minister Carroll MacNeill represented a "landmark" moment in not just raising public awareness surrounding its dangers but also recognising and understanding why early detection is critical."

"Ms Smyth reserved a particular mention for Sinead O'Reilly, who has previously spoken of her family's experience of losing her sister-in-law Sarah to sepsis in 2022 following failures in recognition and escalation of care. Those warm sentiments were similarly directed at Professor Steve Kerrigan, deputy head of the school of research and professor of precision therapeutics at the Royal College of Surgeons and Ciarán Staunton, co-founder of US based non profit group END SEPSIS."

Read at Irish Independent