NURSE Ann Bishop is urging people to be alert for the symptoms of sepsis.

The condition, which claims 37,000 lives every year across the UK, often while they are in hospital, has hit the headlines recently due to fears that thousands of people are dying because the signs of sepsis are missed or not spotted in time.

It has taken high profile tragedies such as the story of William Mead, the one-year-old Cornish boy who died from the condition after warning signs were missed by medical professionals, to thrust sepsis into the limelight, despite the fact it is responsible for more deaths than bowel cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer put together.

Like many, Ann, the sepsis project nurse at Dorset County Hospital, was not very aware of the condition until her daughter was diagnosed with it four years ago.

Fortunately she was one of the lucky ones whose condition was identified in time, and was able to make a full recovery.

Ann said: “Our aim is to raise awareness of it because to we can save lives by just raising awareness.”

She said that educating parents about the symptoms for is key so they can raise the possibility of sepsis with their doctor, and early diagnosis is crucial for treatment to be effective.

“A parent knows when something is wrong with their child so it’s about having the knowledge and courage to speak out and ask the question,” she said.

As well as children, elderly people are particularly at risk, but sepsis is an indiscriminate condition that can target all ages. Ann’s daughter was 19 when she suffered from it.

The condition is caused by the body’s immune system overreacting to a severe infection, causing widespread inflammation which can cause more harm than the original infection.

Common symptoms include fever, nausea and diarrhoea, a rapid pulse and rapid breathing.

The UK Sepsis Trust believes that if the illness were accepted as a clinical priority for the NHS up to 10,000 lives could be saved each year.

Ann is hoping to set up a group for survivors of sepsis or those who have lost relatives for the condition. Email her at annb.lv@sepsistrust.org.