Dudley MP Mike Wood meets hospital staff who saved his life when he was struck down with sepsis
Dudley South MP Mike Wood met up with hospital staff who he says saved his life when he was diagnosed with a deadly blood condition.
The MP was given only a 10 per cent chance of survival when he was rushed into Russells Hall Hospital suffering with sepsis earlier this year.
But thanks to the efforts of doctors and nurses from the hospital's dedicated critical care team he managed to pull through.
Now Conservative MP Mr Wood is campaigning to raise awareness of the illness, which can be fatal if it is not spotted quickly enough.
Speaking ahead of World Sepsis Day on Wednesday, Mr Wood said: "Russells Hall is well ahead of the game when it comes to both recognising sepsis and the level of care that is required.
"I was certainly lucky that I was admitted to this hospital in particular and can only say a big thank you to everyone involved."
Mr Wood's ordeal began in January when he started to suffer with a sore throat. He continued to work but his condition deteriorated rapidly and he was rushed to hospital.
It was at first thought that he was suffering from meningitis, but he was quickly diagnosed with sepsis and placed in a medically induced coma.
His blood pressure collapsed and the sepsis triggered pneumonia, kidney failure and a suspected aborted heart attack.
At that point his parents were told he had only a one in 10 chance of survival, but after three weeks in hospital he was discharged and is now continuing his recovery, having returned to work for the first time in March.
Reflecting on his recovery, Mr Wood said: "In a lot of ways it is very frustrating being ill once you're beyond the critical stage.
"You want to be back doing everything 100 per cent, but of course, it doesn't quite work like that.
"The most difficult thing to adjust to was the physical side of things. Being in a coma for 10 days obviously has an effect on your muscles so getting about was a real challenge.
"Being at home...having to negotiate children, dogs and stairs. Even seven months down the line issues with stamina and fatigue can be difficult to accept.
"I go into work thinking I could do the same as I could previously, but by 6pm or 7pm I'm almost asleep on my feet."
Dr Ron Daniels, CEO of the UK Sepsis Trust, said the number of people suffering from sepsis was increasing by around 11 per cent every year, with an estimated 250,000 cases expected in 2017.
He said raising public awareness of sepsis was key to early diagnosis and effective treatment.
"We are starting to work to engage the public, but it is not enough," he said.
"If we act quickly we can return people to a normal and productive life more quickly."
Russells Hall Hospital's critical care unit is raising money for Sepsis UK this year.
