Sepsis causes five deaths every hour in the UK. Over the last decade, the NHS, in partnership with charities such as the UK Sepsis Trust, has launched major awareness campaigns and new protocols to spot sepsis sooner and treat it faster. World Sepsis Day, which takes place on Saturday, 13 September, presents an opportunity to reflect on the progress made while highlighting the need for continued improvements and vigilance.
NHS action
The NHS launched its first Sepsis Action Plan in 2015. It set out five key aims: prevent avoidable cases, raise awareness among the public and professionals, speed up diagnosis, improve data and reporting and ensure appropriate use of antibiotics. Since then, the NHS has embedded sepsis into clinical standards with NICE Guidelines and has implemented consistent monitoring systems, with early warning scores to flag potential sepsis cases in hospitals.
The Sepsis Six, a set of six steps to be taken when potential sepsis cases are identified, was developed by the UK Sepsis Trust in 2006 and is now in use in over 30 countries across the world. This has been instrumental in the improved treatment of sepsis. The UK Sepsis Trust states that delivering the Sepsis Six within one hour is one of the most life-saving treatments available in medicine. The UK Sepsis Trust has also collaborated with organisations to create important clinical tools for use across all healthcare settings.
Clinical tools are designed to aid the early recognition and treatment of sepsis, which are vital to improve outcomes. Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust recently reported the success of its sepsis dashboard, implemented at its New Cross Hospital. This has resulted in a 20-30% reduction each month in patients who are at a high risk of sepsis.
Public awareness
Charities such as the UK Sepsis Trust have worked tirelessly to improve the public’s awareness of sepsis. A YouGov poll in 2024 commissioned by the charity found that 94% of respondents had heard of sepsis and 91% understood that it was a medical emergency.
However, only 31% felt that they could recognise symptoms. As early treatment is so important to outcome, the focus on raising awareness continues, with the UK Sepsis Trust encouraging the public to “just ask: could it be sepsis?” when severe infection symptoms appear.
The signs of sepsis
| Adults
Slurred speech or confusion Extreme shivering or muscle pain Passing no urine (in a day) Severe breathlessness It feels like you are going to die Skin mottled or discoloured |
| A child may have sepsis if they:
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| Children Under 5
A child under 5 may have sepsis if they:
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Sepsis claims
While significant progress has been made over the past decade, the burden of sepsis remains high. As many as 48,000 people a year die as a result of sepsis, which is more than breast, bowel and prostate cancer combined.
A significant number of medical negligence claims involving sepsis are brought each year. NHS Resolution data shows that between 2020/21 and 2023/24, an average of 255 cases per annum were notified to NHS Resolution where sepsis was involved, with damages of £33,943,337 paid out during that period. The majority of cases involve a delay in diagnosis and treatment.
Stewarts acts for claimants where a delay in diagnosis or treatment of sepsis has led to life-changing injuries or death. We focus on helping clients secure compensation for ongoing care and rehabilitation and helping our clients to live full and active lives.
You can find further information regarding our expertise, experience and team on our Medical Negligence page.
If you require assistance from our team, please contact us.
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