Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron
Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron is a new podcast from the UK Sepsis Trust, aimed at junior healthcare professionals, as well as health-conscious members of the public.
It aims to educate and raise awareness about sepsis, as well as infection management more broadly.
Episode 15: Meningitis messaging and rash recognition: Meningitis Research Foundation’s Caroline Hughes on effective public health communication
In episode 15 of Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron, UKST’s Founder & Chief Medical Officer is joined by Caroline Hughes, Support Services Manager at the Meningitis Research Foundation, to discuss the links between sepsis and meningitis.
Released following World Meningitis Day on 5th October, this episode sheds light on the interconnectedness of these life-threatening conditions – including the impact on survivors and their families – along with the urgent need for awareness, and how timely intervention can save lives.
Caroline shares the vital work her organisation does to support individuals affected by meningitis and the global efforts to defeat it, including their involvement in the World Health Organisation’s initiative to defeat bacterial meningitis by 2030.
The podcast is also available on other platforms such as Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and more.
Previous Episodes
Episode 1: Remembering Maudie: Jason Watkins on grief, acting, and his and wife Clara’s new ITV1 documentary
Trigger warning: Death, Grief, Child Loss
In the first episode Dr Ron speaks to BAFTA award-winning actor and UKST ambassador Jason Watkins (The Catch, Line of Duty) ahead of the release of a new documentary about the tragic loss of Jason’s daughter, Maude, to sepsis in 2011.
Listen now:
The podcast is also available on other platforms such as Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and more.
Episode 2: Surviving Sepsis: Insights on recovery and Post Sepsis Syndrome
Oliver’s background as a critical care nurse makes him the perfect candidate to discuss what information and aftercare is needed for sepsis survivors. Together with Ron, he explores the impact of PSS on people’s lives and the challenges of getting it recognised by health professionals, insurance providers, and employers.
The pair discuss ways in which health professionals can help patients who may be experiencing problems after sepsis, and give an overview of the fantastic support services provided by the UK Sepsis Trust.
Listen now:
The podcast is also available on other platforms such as Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and more.
Episode 3: Maternal Sepsis: Mum Poppy Gibson shares her survival journey to educate other parents
While anyone can get sepsis at any time, pregnant people and new mothers are particularly at risk of infection and therefore sepsis. As well as breaking down some of the stigmas around accessing support for your mental health as a new mum, the episode aims to empower parents – particularly first-time parents – to be prepared to ‘Just ask: Could it be sepsis?’ if something doesn’t feel right.
Find out more about maternal sepsis here.
Listen now:
The podcast is also available on other platforms such as Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and more.
Episode 4: Power of the Press: How the media can help combat sepsis and AMR – Editor Matthew D’Ancona’s view
The pair also tackle the big question of how the media can help spread the word about sepsis, especially in the run up to World Sepsis Day on 13 September, and how the issue is interlinked with the threat of antimicrobial resistance.
Listen now:
The podcast is also available on other platforms such as Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and more.
Episode 5: United Against Infection: Conquering sepsis and AMR with Pfizer UK Senior Medical Advisor and GP Tom Ashfield
The two doctors discuss the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and the link to sepsis. They also explore the vital work of the Infection Management Coalition to put responsible antimicrobial stewardship on the agenda of global health leaders, as well as making the issue easy to understand so that patients are empowered to safeguard their own future.
The pair cover:
- What AMR is and how sepsis is regarded by the World Health Organization as the final common pathway to death from most untreatable infections
- Public knowledge of AMR and what can be done to improve awareness
- How UKST’s work has influenced Tom’s practice as a GP
- Changes to community care following Covid-19 pandemic and impact on patients
- Improving the way diagnostics are integrated into clinical settings
- Tom’s experience in the pharmaceutical industry and the need for collaboration through initiatives like the Infection Management Coalition
Find out more about the Infection Management Coalition: theimc.org
Find out more about sepsis, and the work of the UKST: sepsistrust.org
Final approval undertaken by Pfizer UK. Date of prep. August 2023; PP-UNP-GBR-6068
Listen now:
The podcast is also available on other platforms such as Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and more.
Episode 6: Food for thought: How UK catering companies and consumers can drive change in the race to prevent antimicrobial resistance
Following the publication of Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics’ new report, a comprehensive assessment of the antibiotic policies of the UK’s leading catering companies, the duo discuss how antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could cause up to 10 million deaths a year by 2050 if we don’t act now.
The podcast is also available on other platforms such as Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and more.
Episode 7: Beyond the numbers: Illuminating the reality of paediatric sepsis
Melissa illustrates how the sepsis landscape has changed over the nine years since her family’s tragic loss, and shares what she thinks still needs to be done to improve outcomes.
Dr Ron is also joined by Mandy Moores, whose identical twin daughters offer a unique insight into the long-term effects of sepsis on children. Mandy shines a light on the challenges faced by families affected by paediatric sepsis, celebrating what Tilly has achieved against the odds.
The podcast is also available on other platforms such as Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and more.
Episode 8: From Farm to Fork: Tackling the AMR crisis in farming beyond Veganuary 2024
Released in time for Veganuary, and following the recent publication of World Animal Protection’s report ‘Is factory farming killing us?’, the pair discuss the very real global threat of antimicrobial resistance and how consumer dietary habits will be vital in combatting the problem.
Do you have to go vegan to make a difference, or could giving greater consideration to the type and quality of meat we eat be a solution? Listen and find out!
The podcast is also available on other platforms such as Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and more.
Episode 9: Collaborating for compassionate end-of-life care: UKST and Marie Curie on treating cancer and sepsis in palliative settings
Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end of life charity. While they deal with patients with a range of life-limiting conditions, this episode focuses on cancer and sepsis, given that it was World Cancer Day on 4th February and King Charles III has recently been diagnosed with cancer.
The podcast is also available on other platforms such as Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and more.
Episode 10: Ombudsman insights: A decade of challenges and achievements in sepsis care
As Rob approaches the end of his tenure, they reflect on the changes since the Ombudsman’s groundbreaking sepsis report, ‘A Time to Act,’ in 2013.
They discuss improvements in sepsis detection, management, and patient outcomes over the past decade, as well as key takeaways from the Ombudsman’s latest report, ‘Spotlight on sepsis: your stories, your rights.’
The podcast is also available on other platforms such as Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and more.
Episode 11: Moving Forward: Surviving sepsis and overcoming mental health challenges
Tune in to this empowering episode for an enlightening discussion on mental health, resilience, and the journey to healing.
The podcast is also available on other platforms such as Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and more.
Episode 12: Pancreas predicaments: Exploring the interplay of chronic kidney disease, diabetes and sepsis with Kidney Care UK’s Deborah Duval
In the twelfth episode of Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron, Dr Ron Daniels is joined by Deborah Duval, managing editor of Kidney Care UK’s quarterly magazine, Kidney Matters, and head of the charity’s Kidney Kitchen.
As a Type 1 diabetic living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and two-time sepsis survivor, Deborah is uniquely placed to speak to the interrelationship of the conditions, and what our organisations are doing to work together to improve sepsis outcomes for at-risk patient groups.
The podcast is also available on other platforms such as Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and more.
Episode 13: A Mother’s Mission: Group B Strep Support’s Jane Plumb on prevention and the power of charity collaboration
Group B Streptococcus is the leading cause of severe infection including meningitis in newborns, and Jane knows this all too well, having tragically lost her son, Theo, to it. Since Theo’s death, Jane has been at the forefront of advocacy and education efforts to combat this usually preventable infection.
Like any infection, left untreated Group B strep can progress to sepsis – therefore it’s vital that our two organisations work together to raise awareness in the hope of ending preventable deaths from these conditions.
The podcast is also available on other platforms such as Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and more.
Episode 14: Sepsis survival and advocacy: ‘Bionic’ former MP Craig Mackinlay on adapting to life with disability and driving for change
In episode 14 of Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron, UKST’s Founder & Chief Medical Officer Ron Daniels is joined by former Member of Parliament Craig Mackinlay, for an episode released during Sepsis Awareness Month.
Craig’s story is one of immense resilience. After surviving sepsis, he underwent quadruple amputation and has since turned his experience into advocacy for better sepsis care. Recently appointed to the House of Lords, Craig is now using his platform to push for crucial changes in healthcare that could save lives and improve outcomes for sepsis survivors.
<iframe style=”border-radius: 12px; max-height: 152px; overflow: auto;” src=”https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/6OYqhvhSM8xRAnWFuAG4at?utm_source=generator&t=0″ width=”100%” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen=”” allow=”autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture” loading=”lazy”></iframe>
The podcast is also available on <a href=”https://sepsisvoices.podbean.com/”>other platforms</a> such as Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and more.