September is Sepsis Awareness Month, an important opportunity to raise awareness of a condition that can become life-threatening if it is not recognised and treated quickly.
Every year, sepsis affects thousands of people across the UK. While many patients recover when treatment is provided quickly, delays in diagnosis or treatment can have devastating consequences, including permanent injury, organ failure, limb loss and, tragically, death.
As a clinical negligence team, we regularly support individuals and families who have been affected by failures in sepsis care. Investigating these cases not only helps our clients obtain answers and compensation where appropriate but also highlights the importance of recognising the warning signs and ensuring timely treatment.
In this article, we explain what sepsis is, the symptoms to look out for, and when concerns about delayed diagnosis or treatment may give rise to a clinical negligence claim.
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is a serious medical condition that occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection and begins to damage its own tissues and organs. It can develop from infections such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, abdominal infections, or infected wounds.
Sepsis can affect anyone, but certain groups are at a higher risk, including:
- Babies and young children
- Older adults
- People with weakened immune systems
- Individuals with long-term health conditions
- Individuals recovering from surgery or serious illness
Without prompt treatment, sepsis can progress rapidly and lead to septic shock, organ failure and death.
Recognising the signs of sepsis
One of the biggest challenges in treating sepsis is that its symptoms can initially resemble less serious illnesses.
Common signs and symptoms in adults may include:
- confusion or slurred speech
- uncontrollable shivering
- muscle pain
- difficulty breathing
- blue, pale, grey or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on black or brown skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- a high or low temperature – a high temperature is less common in older adults
- not peeing all day or peeing very little in the past 18 hours
In children, symptoms may also include:
- having a fit (seizure)
- a high or low temperature – feeling very hot or cold when you touch them
- a rash that does not fade when you press it – this type of rash is rare in sepsis, but it may be a symptom of meningitis
- being sleepier than normal or difficult to wake
- not peeing in the last 12 hours (for babies and children under 5 years), or not peeing all day (for children 5 years and over) – you can check a baby’s nappy to see if it’s dry
Because sepsis can deteriorate quickly, early recognition and medical intervention are vital.
Why early diagnosis matters
Sepsis is a medical emergency. The earlier it is identified and treated, the better the chances of recovery.
Treatment typically involves:
- Prompt administration of antibiotics
- Intravenous fluids
- Oxygen therapy if required
- Close observation and monitoring
- Intensive care support in severe cases
Unfortunately, sepsis is not always recognised straight away. Delays can occur in a variety of healthcare settings, including:
- GP surgeries
- NHS 111 assessments
- Accident and Emergency departments
- Hospital wards
- Out-of-hours services
In some cases, healthcare professionals may fail to recognise a patient’s symptoms as indicators of sepsis. In others, tests may not be carried out promptly, warning signs may be overlooked, or treatment may be delayed despite concerns being raised.
When can a delay in diagnosing sepsis amount to clinical negligence?
Not every delayed diagnosis will amount to clinical negligence. Healthcare professionals are not expected to be perfect, and medicine can be complex.
However, a claim may be possible where the care provided fell below an acceptable standard, and this caused avoidable injury or worsened the patient’s outcome.
Examples may include:
- Failing to identify recognised signs of sepsis
- Delays in referring a patient to hospital
- Failure to arrange appropriate investigations
- Delays in administering antibiotics
- Failure to escalate concerns when a patient’s condition deteriorates
- Inadequate monitoring of a patient at risk of sepsis
To succeed in a clinical negligence claim, it is generally necessary to prove both that there was a breach of duty and that this directly caused additional harm.
The lasting impact of sepsis
For some people, surviving sepsis is only the beginning of a long recovery journey.
Many individuals experience ongoing physical and psychological difficulties, sometimes referred to as post-sepsis syndrome. These can include:
- Chronic fatigue
- Memory and concentration difficulties
- Limb pain and mobility issues
- Anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder
- Organ damage
- Amputations in severe cases
These effects can have a significant impact on employment, finances, relationships and overall quality of life.
Families who have lost a loved one due to delayed diagnosis or treatment of sepsis can also face profound emotional and financial consequences.
How can a clinical negligence solicitor help?
Where there are concerns about the medical treatment received, seeking specialist legal advice can help provide answers.
An experienced clinical negligence solicitor can:
- Obtain and review medical records
- Investigate whether appropriate care was provided
- Instruct independent medical experts
- Assess whether delays affected the outcome
- Explain the merits of a potential claim
- Pursue compensation where negligence has caused injury or loss
Compensation cannot undo the harm that has been suffered, but it can help provide access to rehabilitation, specialist support, care and financial security for the future.
For many clients, an investigation also provides an opportunity to understand what happened and seek accountability where mistakes have been made.
Sepsis Awareness Month: Know the signs
Sepsis remains a medical emergency. Recognising the symptoms and seeking urgent medical attention can save lives.
As Sepsis Awareness Month reminds us, increased awareness among the public and healthcare professionals alike is essential in improving outcomes and preventing avoidable harm.
If you or a loved one have experienced complications following a delayed diagnosis or treatment of sepsis and would like advice about whether a clinical negligence claim may be possible, our specialist team is here to help.
Speak to our Clinical Negligence Team
Our experienced clinical negligence solicitors regularly assist individuals and families affected by delayed diagnosis and treatment of sepsis. We can provide clear, practical advice on your legal options and whether you may be entitled to pursue a claim.
Contact our team today for a confidential discussion.
How can we help?
Mia-LaShae Mitchell is a Paralegal in our expert Medical Negligence team, which has been ranked in tier one by the independently researched publication, The Legal 500.
If you have any questions in relation to the subjects discussed in this article, then please get in touch with Mia-LaShae or another member of the team in Derby, Leicester, or Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form.
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