Everything you need to know about the dangerous condition that kills thousands of people every year
WORDS: MICHELE O’CONNOR
HEALTH
Every year in the UK, at least 245,000 people develop sepsis, and 48,000 of them die – that’s five people every hour. However thousands of these deaths are preventable, experts say.
A new Spotlight On Sepsis report concluded that “the same serious failings are still happening” despite a previous report in 2013 calling for an overhaul of the way the condition is managed.
The case of 13-year-old Martha Mills is just one recent example with common errors, including delays delivering treatment and poor communication between healthcare staff, contributing to her death in 2021. Martha probably would have survived if doctors had identified warning signs and transferred her to intensive care earlier, the inquest into her death concluded.
NHS ombudsman Rob Behrens said “significant improvements are urgently needed to avoid more fatalities”, including NHS Trusts being open about, and learning from, mistakes. “Complaints have the power to reveal the truth, bring closure and create lasting positive change,” he said.
“The NHS is continuing to let patients down,” says Dr Ron Daniels BEM, Chief Executive of the UK Sepsis Trust (sepsistrust.org). “To prevent avoidable deaths, the public need to feel empowered and encouraged, alongside health professionals, to actively think about sepsis.”
What Exactly Is Sepsis?
This life-threatening condition, sometimes called septicaemia or blood poisoning, claims more lives in the UK every year than bowel, breast and prostate cancer combined. It arises when the body’s response to an infection – which normally helps to protect us – goes into overdrive. It can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and sometimes death, especially if not recognised early and treated promptly.
Could I – Or A Loved One – Be At Risk?
“Sepsis can affect anyone of any age, irrespective of underlying conditions, and can arise as a result of a urine infection, pneumonia, or a cut, bite or sting,” explains Dr Daniels. Unfortunately, it’s still not known why some people who get an infection develop sepsis and others don’t.
Why Is Sepsis Missed?
“Sepsis can be difficult to spot,” explains Dr Daniels. “There is no single si
