MP for Castle Point, attended a reception at the Palace of Westminster to show her support for efforts to tackle the relatively unknown illness sepsis, which claims the lives of 44,000 people every year in the UK.  The event supported World Sepsis Day (13th September), aiming to raise awareness of a condition that kills more people than breast cancer, bowel cancer, prostate cancer and road accidents combined.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body's response to an infection damages its own tissues and organs. It can lead to shock, multiple organ failure, and death, especially if it is not recognised early and treated promptly. Sepsis is the leading cause of death from infection around the world and, despite advances in modern medicine like vaccines and antibiotics acute care experts believe not enough is being done to save lives.  

The event was attended by many MPs, and was supported by representatives from charities and the medical and nursing Royal Colleges, sepsis survivors, doctors, nurses, health professionals and the general public.

At the reception, Dr Ron Daniels, Chief Executive of the UK Sepsis Trust, formally launched the national public awareness campaign on sepsis, supported by Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "Sepsis is a devastating condition and patients rightly expect the NHS to be able to recognise it and provide the highest quality patient care.

We are committed to a new campaign that will raise awareness of the condition and have worked closely with the UK Sepsis Trust to make sure it will help people to spot the signs and get the help they need. This will run alongside the work we’ve already been doing to improve standards of care – so that we can promise patients the safest, highest-quality care anywhere in the world.”

Rebecca Harris MP said: “I have several constituents who have nearly died from sepsis ranging from tiny new born babies to strapping healthy men. Awareness is needed to catch more cases in time.”

Early symptoms of sepsis include a high or low body temperature, shivering, a fast heartbeat and fast breathing. Severe sepsis or septic shock can develop soon after, symptoms of which include faintness, confusion, vomiting, muscle pain and breathlessness.