Some of the content presented on our website has been generated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). We ensure that all AI-generated content meets our high standards for accuracy and relevance.
New figures published today show that there has been a significant increase in deaths related to sepsis within the hospital setting. The data suggests that there has been a rise of over a third in the last 2 years of deaths in hospitals or within 30 days of discharge.
The BBC has reported that a leading safety expert, Professor Brian Jarman, has attributed this rise to staff shortages and overcrowding on hospital wards. However, NHS England has said that the reason for the rise is that more conditions are being classed as sepsis than was the case before. Previously classified infections are also being reviewed and reclassified as sepsis.
An NHS England spokesperson told the BBC:
“Over the past three years there has been huge effort across the NHS to increase clinical recognition of, and recording of, sepsis. That improved method of recording means some cases previously recorded as simple infections are now classified as sepsis. So this data does not prove an increase in sepsis cases per se.”
What is Sepsis?
Sepsis is a rare but serious complication of an infection, where the immune system goes into overdrive, overwhelming the body. If not treated promptly it can lead to septic shock, organ failure and death. It can start from a very simple source of infection, such as a cut that gets infected or an insect bite. Normally the immune system kicks in and fights the infection, stopping it from spreading. However, in some cases the immune system response is too much for the body to cope with and leads to catastrophic effects.
The difficulty faced by medical practitioners, and the public alike, is that the symptoms are often difficult to identify as sepsis as separate from an infection. Raising awareness is therefore key especially in the early stages. Symptoms of sepsis include:
- Slurred speech
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain
- Passing no urine in a day
- Severe breathlessness
- The patient reporting that they feel like they might die
- Skin that is mottled or discoloured
It is even harder to detect symptoms in young children but they include:
- Raised temperature
- Skin that looks mottled, bluish or pale
- Being very lethargic or difficult to wake, non-responsive, baby who is floppy
- Abnormally cold to touch
- Breathing very fast or ‘grunting’
- A rash that does not fade when you press it
- A seizure or convulsion
*Source: NHS Choices and the Sepsis Trust
The tragic death of 12 month old baby, William Mead from Cornwall, has been widely reported and is furthering attempts to raise awareness. It is hoped that with a new focus on the symptoms to look out for and improvements in early warning scores, the statistics of reported deaths caused by sepsis will reduce.
How Can Nelsons Help?
Carolle White is an Associate & Chartered Legal Executive in Nelsons’ Medical Negligence team
If you have been affected by the points raised in this blog, then please contact Carolle or another member of the team on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form.
Our team prides itself on our friendly and professional service and we are always happy to discuss queries over the phone, via email or where appropriate at a meeting.