A THORNBURY charity has calculated the cost of ongoing medical care for people who have suffered meningitis.

The Meningitis Research Foundation has worked out that the cost of caring for people who have survived meningitis and septicaemia can run into millions across their lifetime. Representatives from the charity were due in London today to campaign for the Government to pursue a vaccination to prevent people being struck down by the diseases.

Among the examples featured in Counting the Cost of Meningitis is a baby who had to have amputations after contracting septicaemia and will require £2,833,374 of medical support if he lives to 70.

Chief executive Christopher Head said: "Our analysis improves on the patchy existing research in this area, and shows how meningitis and septicaemia affect those who survive, and how they struggle to come to terms with diseases which change lives forever.

"Counting the Cost of Meningitis makes practical recommendations to Government to reduce the burden of disease through vaccination in the UK."