Pictured following a Presentation to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen on the need to put Sepsis Management and Awareness on the agenda for Ireland’s EU Presidency are Deputy Brendan Smith, Sinead O’Reilly, Bailieborough and North East Sepsis Awareness and Professor Steve Kerrigan, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland along with Committee Members Senator Paraic Brady, Senator Aubrey McCarthy, Deputy Louise O’Reilly Chair and Deputy Patrick Buckley.

Sepsis plan expected to be published shortly

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The HSE's 'Action on Sepsis: Five Year Strategy 2026 – 2030' is at the final stage of review and is expected to be published shortly.

Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill gave the update in a response to a question by Deputy Brendan Smith.

The plan was initially to be published in 2024, and the Cavan-based North East Sepsis Awareness group have been campaigning for its publication. Meanwhile, Professor Steve Kerrigan of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and NESA's Sinead O’Reilly from Bailieborough provided a presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Petitions and the Ombudsman, regarding the need to put Sepsis Management and Awareness on the agenda for Ireland’s EU Presidency.

Sinead is a nurse and patient advocate with NESA who tragically lost her 34 year old sister-in-law, Sarah, to sepsis.

"She and Professor Kerrigan outlined in great detail and with absolute clarity the need for much greater awareness of this very dangerous infection, how sepsis is part of a growing public health threat with fewer effective drugs to treat it. Unfortunately, antibiotics, the cornerstone of sepsis treatment, are increasingly failing due to increased resistance," Deputy Smith stated.

The meeting heard approximately 3,000 people in Ireland lose their lives to sepsis every year. In 2020 there were approximately 50 million cases of sepsis each year across the world and approximately 11 million deaths. It is projected to have grown by approximately 10% per year since then.

"This condition is preventable and the forthcoming government strategy needs to look at real and appreciable actions that are aligned with international best practice and scaled to our health system," Deputy Smith stated.

From July until December 2026, Ireland will hold the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Professor Kerrigan and Ms O’Reilly requested the Committee to work towards placing sepsis on the EU health agenda during our Presidency.

"I agree with Professor Kerrigan who stated that doing so would position Ireland as a leader in patient safety and public health, align us with EU concerns on antimicrobial resistance, support cross-border learning on early recognition and outcomes, and show that Ireland is prepared to lead on issues that are complex, costly and urgent.

"I will continue to stress the importance of a cohesive approach to sepsis awareness and management as the EU Presidency programme is being developed,” concluded Deputy Brendan Smith.

KNOW THE SIGNS OF SEPSIS AND ACT FAST!

If you are feeling unwell, ask yourself, could it be sepsis? Sepsis can hide behind any infection at any age. Don’t miss the signs. Acting quickly can save lives from sepsis.

- Slurred speech or confusion

- Extreme shivering, muscle pain or fever

- Passing no urine

- Severe breathlessness

- It feels like you are going to die

- Skin mottled or discoloured

When it comes to sepsis, REMEMBER:

‘It’s about TIME’. Watch for:

- Temperature higher or lower than usual

- Infection - may have signs or symptoms of infection

- Mental decline - confused, sleepy, difficult to rouse

- Extremely ill - ‘I feel like I might die’, severe pain or discomfort

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