New guidance from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been issued to GPs and hospital staff demanding that they treat a patient who could potentially have sepsis, in the same way that they would treat a patient that has suffered a heart attack or is suffering from symptoms of a heart attack.
Statistics suggest that there are around 44,000 deaths from sepsis in the UK each year and experts have estimated that between 5,000 and 13,000 of the sepsis related deaths could be avoided if the correct questions are asked in the first instance.
Medical staff are being urged to consider sepsis at the very first signs of an infection in a patient. It has been suggested that medical staff should consider sepsis in a patient showing signs of an infection in a similar way that they would consider a heart attack in a patient who is experiencing chest pains.
The guidelines have been updated due to investigations into the death of a three year old boy from sepsis. On investigation the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsmen found that the boy’s death could have been avoided had he been treated as a medical emergency and not had a delay in the treatment he received.
Due to the new guidelines on sepsis being published, a training scheme has been launched at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. This training aims to retrain medical staff on how to spot they symptoms of sepsis and how to treat it within an hour. The training also details the signs of sepsis.
The ‘Think Sepsis and Ask Sepsis’ campaign is being launched and campaigners are urging patients and their family members to ask medical staff to check for sepsis if they are concerned that they are showing signs.
The campaign will aim to educate individuals on what the symptoms of sepsis are and what to look out for in both adults and children who are feeling unwell and fighting an infection.
Moosa-Duke Solicitors are pleased that the NHS are introducing retraining to medical staff to assist in the diagnosis of sepsis.
If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of poor care from a medical professional, please feel free to call us for a no obligation discussion on 0116 254 7456.
