The UK Sepsis Trust has been running a campaign for several years to encourage first responders and other healthcare staff to ‘Think Sepsis’ when they are assessing a patient initially. Technical editor, Kate Woodhead RGN DMS discusses how effective the campaign has been in England and the current level of awareness.
Sepsis is a common and potentially lifethreatening disease triggered by an infection which causes confusion to the body’s immune system. If not treated quickly it can lead to multiple organ failure and death. It claims more lives than lung cancer and is the second biggest killer disease after cardiovascular disease. There are an estimated 123,000 cases of sepsis each year in England and around 37,000 deaths. However, early identification and treatment by healthcare staff can reduce the severe outcomes of disability or death.
From April 2019, a change to the NHS standard contract requires all NHS Trusts to comply with guidance on sepsis, written by the Royal College of Physicians, together with many others of multiple specialities.1 NHS England is currently working on developing a paediatric scoring system to mirror the adult National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) system.
A Patient Safety Alert was published in April 2018 which asked every acute and ambulance Trust in England to identify a NEWS2 champion to aid the implementation of the revised guidance from the Royal College of Physicians.
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