Sepsis Treatment Failures
NHS England has recently published its 'Second Sepsis Action Plan', aiming to bring about further progress in the fight against sepsis. Will this succeed in reducing the number of people who die needlessly of this condition every year?
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is an over-reaction by the body's immune system to an infection, which can quickly lead to multiple organ failure and death if treatment is delayed.
It is estimated that, globally, 8 million people a year die from sepsis. In the UK, it is thought that approximately 10,000 sepsis deaths every year could have been avoided.
Taking Action
Both the government and medical organisations have been active in introducing strategies to tackle this deadly disease, focussing on awareness amongst parents of young children and carers of the elderly, two susceptible groups. The aim of these campaigns has been to encourage parents, patients and carers to seek medical advice promptly when early symptoms appear. A delay in seeking help can be fatal.
The Second Sepsis Action Plan, 2017
The new action plan focuses particularly on:
- Preventing opportunities of infection through protection of vulnerable groups
- Improving diagnosis and treatment procedures across the NHS
- Improving education about sepsis in all healthcare provision and amongst the general public
- Developing standardised practice regarding assessment and recording of sepsis
Diagnosis & Treatment
The key to reducing deaths from sepsis remains the early diagnosis of the illness, without which prompt and appropriate treatment is impossible.
It is, therefore, imperative that medical professionals, carers and the general public are alert to the red flag symptoms of high temperature, chills, breathlessness, a fast heartbeat, slurred speech, not passing urine and feeling nauseous.
Identifying that the patient may be at risk of developing sepsis should prompt further investigation or treatment.
Failure to treat
Once sepsis is suspected, a failure to treat the patient promptly may be regarded as medically negligent. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition and the patient requires antibiotic treatment as a matter of emergency.
Guidelines recommend the administration of intravenous antibiotics within one hour of diagnosing or suspecting sepsis.
A failure to recognise or act on symptoms can allow the patient to deteriorate rapidly.
Medical Negligence
Where medial professionals fail to recognise or act on the symptoms of sepsis, a patient is likely to become very seriously ill as their life-support systems begin to malfunction. The patient may require a considerable period of treatment in intensive care. If they survive, the long-term effects of sepsis can be debilitating.
If you or a loved one have suffered with the shocking effects of sepsis due to a delay in diagnosis or treatment, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
Contact Glynns Solicitors, specialists in medical negligence, to discuss your situation with an experienced solicitor.
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