Sepsis survivor feared she 'wouldn't make it'

"I was in agony, confused, and at times I feared I wouldn't make it."

Dianne Pole hopes to raise awareness of sepsis after her experiences following spinal surgery at Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham in 2023.

The 59-year-old said she spent almost three months in hospital after developing an infection and underwent seven operations to wash out and remove dying tissue from her surgical wound.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs QMC, apologised for Pole's experience, adding it remained "committed to listening to and engaging with Dianne regarding her concerns".

Pole, from Birstall in Leicestershire, underwent surgery for curvature of the spine - a condition she has lived with since she was a teenager - at QMC on 12 October 2023.

Following the procedure, she developed an infection and began to feel unwell.

She said she started to suffer from increasing pain, her breathing became slower and she was tired and confused.

Pole required urgent treatment, including blood transfusions and intravenous antibiotics.

The metalwork inserted during her initial spinal surgery was also removed and replaced, she said.

Over the following weeks, she underwent several surgeries to clear the infection.

After being discharged in December, Pole said she was told by her surgeon she had developed sepsis while in hospital.

The mother-of-three said: "I was told I'd be in hospital for two to three weeks. I ended up staying nearly three months.

"I was very poorly. I couldn't speak sometimes, I was shaking, I couldn't eat.

"There were long periods of time where I would just be out of it, not really knowing what was happening, and in the midst of all of that I was going back and forth to theatre to have the wound washed out.

"Sometimes I was so poorly that I didn't even realise because I would just be asleep.

"I do believe once or twice it was touch and go."

Three years on, Pole said she wanted people to "understand how devastating sepsis can be" and beware of the symptoms of the potentially life-threatening condition.

"As a therapist, I've always helped others process trauma. Now I find myself speaking out about my own," she said.

"It's not easy but something I feel I need to do to try and help others.

"If your family member doesn't look right, if they're not communicating with you, shaking, feeling nauseous, ask questions and advocate for them."

Pole added she still suffered from constant pain, but did not know if her struggles were linked to the surgery for her curved spine or her developing sepsis.

Her son Philip said his mother was a "very brave woman" to share her experience.

"It's had such a traumatic and terrible impact on not just my mum but everyone," he said.

"I'm extremely proud of her.

"She feels it's important to raise awareness."

Sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure and death if not recognised and treated promptly.

In the UK, there are 48,000 sepsis-related deaths each year, according to the UK Sepsis Trust.

Dr Ron Daniels, the trust's founder and chief medical officer, said: "Dianne's story demonstrates not only that sepsis can affect anyone, at any time, but also the devastating impact of the condition and the impact it can have on quality of life after survival.

"For some survivors, such as those who lose limbs to the condition - which is thankfully a minority - disability is visible and obvious.

"Approximately 50% of survivors have life-changing after-effects, which are less visible, persisting after a year or even longer."

"We are lobbying the NHS to work with us to deliver rehabilitation just as people might expect after a heart attack or stroke," he added.

Pole said she has now asked a legal team to investigate her care at the hospital.

Lawyer Rosie Charlton, of Irwin Mitchell, said: "Dianne's bravery in speaking out is commendable, and we hope her story encourages others to do the same."

A spokesperson for Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We are very sorry to hear about Dianne and her experiences, post spinal surgery.

"Whilst we cannot comment on the details of individual cases, there are risks of deep infection (sepsis) and post-operative complications associated with this type of major surgery.

"We take all patient feedback extremely seriously and remain committed to listening to and engaging with Dianne regarding her concerns."

Sepsis is a serious reaction to an infection that can be life-threatening and develops very quickly.

Common symptoms are:

• A high fever, or swinging between feeling very hot and very cold
• Inability to keep food or fluids down
• Extreme drowsiness or difficulty staying awake
• Intense or unusual muscle pain
• A sore throat or tonsillitis that suddenly worsens
• A feeling that something is seriously wrong

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