Tom Riley as Tom Ray in Starfish
The UK Sepsis Trust has joined forces with the filmmakers of Starfish to call for better NHS sepsis care ahead of the Department of Health and Public Health England’s upcoming sepsis awareness campaign.
Based on the true story of Tom Ray, Starfish, follows a man who lost all four limbs and parts of his face to sepsis after multiple misdiagnoses and shows how he and his family coped with the condition.
Ray, who advised on the film, has joined the UK Sepsis Trust in its efforts to improve public awareness and has called for better education for healthcare professionals in particular to improve recognition of the blood poisoning condition’s symptoms.
The charity is working with the film’s producers and local NHS trusts across the UK to arrange screenings of Starfish for healthcare professionals and the public, with similar collaborations set to take place in schools and universities in the coming months.
Dr Ron Daniels, chief executive of the UK Sepsis Trust, said: “This tragic and yet hugely uplifting film is a monumental achievement, and provides a vital means of spreading the word about sepsis.
“In its unique capacity to communicate with audiences, a popular portrayal of the damage sepsis can do presents an unprecedented opportunity to move and educate in equal measure.
“Starfish leaves the word ‘sepis’ burned into the viewers’ minds. Once you’ve seen the film, the symptoms and consequences of this catastrophic condition are unforgettable.”
The trust has teamed up with the Department of Health and Public Health England to deliver a UK-wide sepsis awareness campaign intent on improving recognition and understanding of the condition.
By getting the public and HCPs to ‘Just ASK: could it be sepsis?’, the partners hope to boost early diagnosis and treatment and so save thousands of lives each year.
According to the charity, sepsis affects 150,000 people in the UK annually and results in 44,000 deaths. The government-funded initiative could not only save the NHS £314m per year, but prevent 14,000 fatalities.