As Mental Health Awareness Day approaches on October 10th, former MP Craig Mackinlay is using his platform to call for urgent improvements in sepsis aftercare and mental health support for survivors.
In a new episode of Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron, released in September for Sepsis Awareness Month, Mackinlay shares his personal story of survival after losing both hands and feet to sepsis and becoming a quadruple amputee. Now known as the “Bionic” MP, Mackinlay is a powerful advocate for change.
Mackinlay, who received prosthetics after his sepsis ordeal, criticises the NHS for its inadequate provision of prosthetic limbs, saying, “What the NHS is currently giving out in terms of prosthetics does not do mental health any good.”
He explains how poor access to high-quality prosthetics leaves survivors unable to regain their independence, deeply impacting their mental well-being and ability to return to work.
The economic impact of sepsis-related disability is substantial, with many survivors unable to work due to long-term physical and cognitive effects. The UK Sepsis Trust estimates that 40% of sepsis survivors suffer from ongoing complications, leading to lost productivity and increased financial strain on both families and the economy. Mackinlay highlights how providing better aftercare and mental health support could prevent thousands of cases of long-term disability, allowing survivors to contribute to society and reduce the overall economic burden.
Mackinlay’s advocacy aligns with the UK Sepsis Trust’s recent Step Up campaign, which calls on the government to improve outcomes for sepsis survivors. The campaign’s key demands include:
- Measurement and publication of sepsis care performance data – to ensure better accountability and improve NHS care standards.
- Integration of rapid diagnostics – allowing healthcare providers to diagnose and treat sepsis faster, preventing severe disabilities and reducing the long-term economic impact.
- Increased public awareness of sepsis symptoms – ensuring that early intervention prevents life-altering complications like limb loss.
The charity’s Change.org petition calling for public support of the asks has accumulated nearly 50,000 signatures: https://chng.it/5dnys44wvt
Dr Ron Daniels, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of the UK Sepsis Trust, also highlights the “postcode lottery” in sepsis care, noting that a recent University of Manchester study found that people from socioeconomically deprived areas are nearly twice as likely to die from sepsis.
Both Mackinlay and the UK Sepsis Trust emphasise the need for a national effort to address these disparities and improve both physical and mental health care for survivors.
As the UK Sepsis Trust raises awareness this Sepsis Awareness Month, this episode of Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron brings attention to the need for systemic change in sepsis aftercare and the importance of recognising the mental health toll on survivors ahead of Mental Health Awareness Day.
Listen to the full episode here: https://SepsisVoices.podbean.com/e/sepsis-survival-and-advocacy-bionic-former-mp-craig-mackinlay-on-adapting-to-life-with-disability-and-driving-for-change/