Hospital Valentine's cards spread vital sepsis messages
Staff at the trust that runs Shropshire's two main hospitals is using Valentine's Day to spread important messages about sepsis.
The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, that runs the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, is working to improve treatment for patients with Sepsis using techniques it is developing as part of its work with the Virginia Mason Institute in Seattle.
In a fun way of talking about a serious condition, special Valentine's Day cards have been sent to all wards urging staff to think about the signs of Sepsis.
Dr Edwin Borman, medical director at SaTH and Executive Sponsor for the work the Trust is doing on Sepsis, has chosen Valentine's Day to help highlight the symptoms of Sepsis and the importance of staff looking out for them.
He said: "When you look at some of the symptoms of Sepsis, they are remarkably similar to some of the things we associate with being in love, so we thought using Valentine's Day would be a good way of helping to spread the message of what to look out for.
"We produced some posters which have been put up around the Trust and I sent a special 'Valentine's Card' to all Wards asking them to think about Sepsis and the signs of Sepsis."
Sepsis arises when the body's response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs. It can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and death, especially if not recognised early and treated promptly.
Symptoms include a fever or low body temperature, chills and shivering, a fast heartbeat, fast breathing and impaired clarity of consciousness.
Dr Borman said: "Sepsis can prove fatal and patients who develop the condition can deteriorate very, very quickly.
"Sadly, in our hospitals, around six patients a month die from Sepsis, along with other cases where the patient does not reach us in time. We want to reduce that number by at least half and believe that we can do so by increasing awareness of the condition and improving treatment."