Rapid test may have made a difference

A father of two who nearly died after developing sepsis believes his condition could have been caught sooner using a rapid test, which experts hope will soon be available on the NHS.

Ryan Sutherland, from Clackmannanshire, suffered two cardiac arrests and spent more than a week in a coma, days after being told his persistent sore throat was the result of a viral infection.

The 33-year-old said the new sepsis test – which can give a result in just three minutes – could have made “all the difference” for his family.

Mr Sutherland, who has two young daughters, visited his GP in November 2015 after developing a sore throat but was told he had a virus and sent home with no treatment.

“As the week went on, it got worse and – by the Thursday – it was really bad,” Mr Sutherland said.

“My wife took me to the out-of-hours doctor that night and by this point I was really unwell and could barely move.

“I was given an anti-sickness injection and then I was sent home.”

He later collapsed and was rushed to hospital where he spent eight days in a coma before waking up.

Mr Sutherland lost three stones in weight and was so weak he initially struggled to walk.

At the moment it can take up to 72 hours to diagnose the condition.