An NHS chief who developed a life-threatening infection and a suspected case of Sepsis has been reunited with the ambulance crew who saved his life.
John Webster, Accountable Officer for Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), was at his home in Stamford on 12 June 2016, when he suddenly became unresponsive and his wife had to call 999.
The 52-year-old had been battling cancer and had been receiving regular chemotherapy, but he became seriously unwell while at home and believed he was going to die.
Shortly after John’s wife rang 999, Paramedic Hannah Fardell and Technician Paul Wand from Spalding Ambulance Station arrived to help John.
Hannah and Paul assessed John and queried that he may have sepsis. John had been unresponsive, had a high temperature and heart rate - all indicators of sepsis.
John needed to go to hospital, but Hannah and Paul had difficulty in getting John downstairs and out of the house as John is a heavy set man. Family and friends assisted to slide John down the stairs and get him into the ambulance.
John said that he felt so unwell that he believed he was going to die, but was grateful the ambulance crew arrived when they did.
“I really didn’t know much of what was going on but Hannah and Paul were amazing at helping me and reassuring my family, they are absolutely brilliant people.”
Upon arrival at hospital John was diagnosed with an infection in his Hickman Line used for feeding as part of his cancer treatment. He spent a week in Peterborough hospital on IV antibiotics.
Today John has been reunited with Hannah and Paul at Spalding Ambulance Station to say a personal thank you.
He said: “I really appreciate everything you did for me and my family that day, I will always be grateful.”
Hannah said: “I remembered John so well, it’s lovely to be reunited with him and see his recovery going well.”
We have recently completed a pilot study on Sepsis in partnership with North Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals Trust. The pilot saw 20 paramedics trained in administering an antibiotic injection to their patients who were assessed as having ‘red flag’ sepsis at the scene of the emergency.
Following the success of the pilot all paramedics across Lincolnshire will be trained in administering the antibiotic injection and all vehicles will carry the antibiotic.
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