Summary
There are 123,000 cases of sepsis every year in England, resulting in an estimated 37,000 deaths. NHS England’s latest action plan on sepsis is designed to help healthcare professionals (system-wide) to recognise and treat sepsis more promptly. The main areas for improvement include better prevention, increased awareness, faster sepsis identification and treatment and improving consistency in standards and reporting.
Reference
New NHS England action plan to help tackle ‘silent killer’ sepsis. London: NHS England, December 23rd 2015.
This relates to:
Reference
Improving outcomes for patients with sepsis: a cross-system action plan. London: NHS England, December 2015.
Possibly of interest:
Reference
Mundasad, S. (2016). Sepsis: why can it be so hard to spot? London: BBC Health News, January 26th 2016.
“Responding to the case of William Mead, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said around 12,000 sepsis deaths a year may be avoidable”.
On the broader implications of investigations into 12-month-old William Mead’s death:
Reference
Triggle, N. (2016). The wider lessons of William’s death. London: BBC Health News, January 26th 2016.
On the national sepsis awareness campaign which helps parents and carers of young children recognise the symptoms:
Reference
Helping parents spot the signs of sepsis. [Online]: Department of Health and Public Health England, December 15th 2016.
“Every year in the UK there are 150,000 cases of Sepsis, resulting in a staggering 44,000 deaths – more than bowel, breast and prostate cancer combined”. UK Sepsis Trust (UKST).
Unnecessary Treatment Delays – But Signs of Improvement
Possibly quarter of patients in England do not get put on an antibiotic drip within one hour when sepsis is suspected, despite recommendations:
Reference
Triggle, N. (2019). Sepsis: How good are hospitals at treating ‘hidden killer’? London: BBC Health News, July 4th 2019.
