A Staffordshire MP has been selected to Chair the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Sepsis, which recently held its inaugural meeting in Westminster.
Mike Wood, Member of Parliament for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire said that it was a ‘privilege’ to Chairs the committee on April 1st 2025, after he was ‘lucky to survive’ a battle with sepsis eight years ago; Which left Mr Wood in an induced coma for 11 days.
An All-Party Parliamentary Group is an informal committee that sits in Parliament to discuss specific issues. The Group, also referred to as an APPG, includes parliamentarians of all political persuasions from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The APPG on Sepsis includes colleagues from across the House who have also had their lives changed by Sepsis, including fellow sepsis survivor Lord Mackinlay. The self-proclaimed ‘Bionic Peer,’ became the first quadruple amputee to sit in the House of Lords after receiving a peerage in October 2024, following a battle with the illness in 2023.
Comprised of a carefully selected group of cross-Party parliamentarians, the Group will work with the UK Sepsis Trust to provide a platform for organisations, survivors and those affected by sepsis to share their experiences. It is hoped that this will inform recommendations, advocate for simple, timely interventions to be implemented as standard across the NHS and raise awareness about the devastating illness, which claims five lives every hour in the UK alone.
Mike Wood MP said:
“I’m honoured to chair the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Sepsis, a cause that is deeply personal to me. Having been lucky to survive sepsis myself in 2017, I know firsthand how dangerous it can be and the lasting impact this devastating illness has on survivors and their families.
It’s a privilege to work alongside colleagues who have shown such courage in the fight against this deadly disease, which affects 245,000 people in the UK each year. I’m truly inspired by the work already undertaken by Lord Mackinlay, Lee Anderson MP, and Andrew Pakes MP to raise awareness of sepsis in Parliament and beyond.
It’s encouraging to see the strong cross-party support that the APPG has already received, and I look forward to collaborating with colleagues from across Westminster to continue raising the profile of this deadly disease, which claims 48,000 lives in the UK every year.
This platform, which allows us to hear from both experts and survivors, is crucial. The APPG will play a key role in driving positive change within the NHS, improving outcomes for patients, and ensuring that we continue to support everyone affected by sepsis.”
