Star News
St Helens Star writer Nicola Ellison backs meningitis campaign
10:00am Tuesday 21st February 2012
A ST HELENS Star writer who nearly died from meningitis is backing a national campaign encouraging people to "trust their instincts" if they fear they have the disease.
Cases of meningitis traditionally peak in February, and Meningitis UK is advising people in St Helens to know the signs and to keep checking for symptoms.
Nicola Ellison, 26, from Eccleston, was rushed to hospital with meningitis and septicaemia in 2009 after feeling unwell for several days.
She was given antibiotics by a nurse in St Helens Walk in Centre, and believes this quick-thinking saved her life.
When she got to hospital, Nicola was put into a medically-induced coma and spent several days on a life support machine.
Following her experience she is keen to raise awareness.
She said: “I am delighted to back the Trust Your Instincts campaign.
“I would urge people to take notice of the charity’s advice encouraging people to listen to that gut feeling and seek urgent medical attention if they think they are showing signs of meningitis and feel that something is wrong.”
A Meningitis UK-commissioned survey reveals 44 per cent of people in the north west trust GPs implicitly, and only 13 per cent of people will trust their instincts and take further action if they are still worried after receiving advice from a doctor.
Meningitis UK wants people to have the confidence to trust their instincts if they suspect meningitis and to keep pushing at the doctors’ surgery if they still suspect the disease.
Head of development at the charity, Kate Rowland, said: “We hear of so many cases where lives have been saved by people acting on their gut instinct and seeking medical attention immediately.
“It is fantastic that people have so much trust in their GPs. However on average a doctor will see one case of meningitis in their whole career, and the symptoms are notoriously difficult to diagnose.
“This is why we want to work with GPs to help them spot meningitis by encouraging people to question their doctor if at all in doubt.
“People know themselves and their children best.”
The charity is offering the public a free fridge magnet which, for the first time separates the specific and general symptoms of the disease.
To request your free fridge magnet or to find out more information call 0117 947 6320 or visit meningitisuk.org.
