Have you ever contracted an infection after surgery? Share your experience and help reduce risk for others.

Summary

One in 20 patients who undergo a surgical procedure contract an infection afterwards, in the part of the body where the surgery took place. 60% of these are preventable.

We’re looking for patients to help raise awareness of the damaging impact these infections can have on people, and guide improvements.

Have you ever contracted an infection after surgery? How did it affect you? Would you be happy to share your experience?

Content

“I was not able to walk for weeks until it had healed up. The impact was quite dramatic.” (Patient account)

About the project

This project, sponsored by Mölnlycke*, invites patients who have experienced an infection following surgery to share their experiences by being interviewed. These patient insights will be used to create a ‘Digital Storybook’, alongside interviews with healthcare workers. 

Key aims:

• To raise awareness of how infections following surgery can affect a patient and/or their families and carers. This might include physical, emotional or professional impact.
• To help improve current infection control measures.
• To reduce the risk of surgical infection for future patients. 

How will this be shared?

Once finalised, the Digital Storybook will be made publicly available and shared widely with policymakers, MPs, healthcare leaders and the media. It will be used as a campaigning tool to influence change and call for action. 

How do I get involved?

If you’ve had an infection following surgery and would like to share your experience for the Digital Storybook project, please contact Michael Latham by email Michael.Latham@lexcomm.co.uk or telephone 07795995870. 

You can read more about Mölnlycke and the detail of the project in the attached document, ‘Information for participants’.

*This project is sponsored by Mölnlycke, a medical solutions company which designs and supplies medical solutions to enhance performance at every point of care – from the operating room to the home.

Related reading:

Time to Act: A state of the nation report on surgical site infections in the UK

Resources on surgical site infections