Community Pharmacist Saves Patient's Life After Spotting Early Sepsis Signs

A 32-year-old mother has spoken of her gratitude after a Community Pharmacist in Monmouthshire helped her recognise the early warning signs of sepsis - ultimately saving her life.

Florrie, who was visiting the area for a wedding, had initially sought help for a throat infection. She was seen by Kyle, one of Monmouthshire’s Prescribing Pharmacists, who had recently accessed materials from the Health Board’s sepsis awareness campaign. Having come across the campaign online and received the printed resource pack, Kyle was well prepared to act.

As part of her consultation, Kyle prescribed antibiotics for the infection and provided Florrie with a leaflet and symptom card highlighting the key signs of sepsis. He carefully explained what to watch out for and urged her to seek urgent medical help if her symptoms worsened or matched any on the card.

The following day, Florrie’s condition began to rapidly deteriorate. Recalling Kyle’s advice, she contacted emergency services and raised concerns about the possibility of sepsis. Upon arrival at hospital, she was quickly diagnosed with sepsis and treated for the condition.

Doctors later confirmed that if she had delayed seeking help any longer, the outcome could have been much more serious.

Florrie has praised Kyle’s action. She said: "I want to acknowledge everything that Kyle did that ultimately saved my two young children from losing their mummy! I cannot express my gratitude enough for everything he did, when I’m sure he was ready to shut up the pharmacy for the day at 4.55pm on a Friday evening.

“Sepsis itself is so scary, and without knowing about pharmacy services and utilising Kyle’s experience, by the time I got home and saw my own registered GP on the Monday, it could have been too late".

Kyle said the experience had reinforced the vital role pharmacists can play in spotting potential health emergencies. “I’m just glad I had the resources to hand and could pass that knowledge on. Campaigns like this really do make a difference.”

Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to infection and can be difficult to spot in its early stages. Prompt recognition and treatment are essential. The awareness campaign, which provides printed and digital materials to healthcare professionals, aims to improve public understanding and support timely intervention.

Knowing the signs of sepsis and acting quickly can save lives.

Signs of sepsis to look out for include:

Slurred speech or confusion
Extreme shivering or muscle pain
Passing no urine (in a day)
Severe breathlessness
It feels like you’re going to die
Skin mottled or discoloured

Sepsis is a medical emergency. If you or someone else shows signs, seek medical help immediately and just ask… “could it be sepsis?”.