Woman, 23, battled sepsis TWICE in six months and claims doctors wrongly sent ...

A woman survived sepsis twice in six months, after claiming she was initially sent home from the hospital by doctors.

Jessica Tuffield, 23, from Kent, first visited her GP in March 2016 after suffering with lethargy, which is a hallmark symptom, for two weeks.

She had suddenly become so unwell her vision blurred while driving her car, and her temperature and blood pressure were high. 

Ms Tuffield was referred to Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford. But after eight hours, she claims she was discharged without a confirmed diagnosis, even though doctors suspected she had the killer complication.

The sales executive became so ill at home she was continuously vomiting and could barely lift her head.

Her mother raised the alarm by calling 111, and according to Ms Tuffield, the paramedics were shocked she had been sent home.    

Ms Tuffield spent around two weeks in hospital fighting sepsis, but said she doesn't accuse doctors of missing her symptoms because they are notoriously difficult to spot. 

Ms Tuffield was struck down again with sepsis six months later in November 2016, after she was able to spot the signs of the 'silent killer'. She was immediately treated with antibiotics. 

Jessica Tuffield, 23, from Kent, survived sepsis twice in six months, after claiming she was initially sent home from the hospital by doctors

Jessica Tuffield, 23, from Kent, survived sepsis twice in six months, after claiming she was initially sent home from the hospital by doctors

Ms Tuffield was rushed to Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford. But after eight hours, she claims she was sent home. Her mother raised the alarm by calling 111, and according to Ms Tuffield, the paramedics were shocked she had been sent home

Ms Tuffield was rushed to Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford. But after eight hours, she claims she was sent home. Her mother raised the alarm by calling 111, and according to Ms Tuffield, the paramedics were shocked she had been sent home

Known as the 'silent killer', hospitals could be fined for failing to spot and treat sepsis under new guidelines. 

Ms Tuffield has since made it her mission to raise awareness of the potentially fatal illness by working with national charities such as the UK Sepsis Trust - who she has raised £5,339 for so far. 

Recalling the day she was sent home from hospital, Ms Tuffield said: 'I was exhausted from the traumatic day I had. 

'After getting home I began to deteriorate, I became extremely lethargic, and I could not keep my head up and was vomiting continuously.

'My mum contacted 111 and within ten minutes we had two paramedics at our home, who were extremely concerned that I had been sent home with sepsis.

'They rushed me straight back to the hospital; if it was not for my mum, I would not be here today. I owe my life to my parents.'

Ms Tuffield had initially brushed off how she was feeling in March 2016 because she had been suffering with a chest infection.

However, within the space of two weeks she began having uncontrollable nose bleeds - roughly ten a day - which wasn't a normal occurrence for her. 

Nosebleeds aren't a listed sign of sepsis, however Sepsis Trust say symptoms vary widely between patients. 

Ms Tuffield said: 'The day before I got rushed into hospital by my GP, I had been driving myself to work in the early hours of the morning and I genuinely felt exhausted and I had this gut wrenching feeling that I was not okay.

'I remember driving along and my eyes began to hurt and my vision went blurry.'

Ms Tuffield stopped the car, petrified that she was losing her eyesight, but manage to reach work.

She said: 'Within half an hour of being at work I had crashed out in the back of the office room and I could not remove my sunglasses from my eyes because of the bright light.

'My head was in so much pain. My co-worker dropped me off at my boyfriend's mum's house and I slept for the entire day, hoping that when I woke up, I would be feeling better. I was wrong.' 

Ms Tuffield, pictured at an event, was scared when he doctor suggested she could have sepsis because she had never heard of the condition - also known as blood poisoning

Ms Tuffield, pictured at an event, was scared when he doctor suggested she could have sepsis because she had never heard of the condition - also known as blood poisoning 

Ms Tuffield said: 'If it was not for my mum, I would not be here today. I owe my life to my parents'. Pictured with her family including her mother and father

Ms Tuffield said: 'If it was not for my mum, I would not be here today. I owe my life to my parents'. Pictured with her family including her mother and father 

Ms Tuffield had initially brushed off how she was feeling in March 2016 because she had been suffering with a chest infection. Pictured in hospital having treatment

Ms Tuffield had initially brushed off how she was feeling in March 2016 because she had been suffering with a chest infection. Pictured in hospital having treatment 

Ms Tuffield asked to urgently see her GP after she pulled over in her car with blurred vision

Ms Tuffield asked to urgently see her GP after she pulled over in her car with blurred vision 

HOSPITALS COULD FACE PENALTIES IF THEY DON'T SPOT SEPSIS 

Hospitals could be fined for failing to spot and treat the ‘silent killer’ sepsis under new guidelines.

Staff are being told to be extra vigilant for symptoms of the condition in patients at A&E and on wards.

Junior doctors will also be obliged to tell consultants if patients diagnosed with sepsis haven’t responded to drugs within an hour.

The move is part of a drive to provide quicker diagnosis and treatment of patients arriving at A&E with suspected sepsis and other killers such as heart attacks and strokes.

The guidelines, which took effect from April 1, come after a handful of hospitals have been criticised for failing to prevent sepsis deaths.

Guidelines were drawn up by NHS England with the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of GPs, the health watchdog NICE and the UK Sepsis Trust.

Dr Tim Nutbeam, of the UK Sepsis Trust, said: ‘We have been working with NHS England for the past three years to improve the recognition and management of sepsis in hospitals.'

 

The next morning,

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