Sepsis – The silent killer

Sepsis awareness

Contrary to what you might think, awareness of sepsis is still alarmingly low, and if people are not aware, how can they be expected to know that they need to seek treatment immediately?

When you think of somebody having sepsis, you might picture someone in a hospital bed, surrounded by beeping machines and frantic doctors.

However, it can begin in the most mundane of settings – a harmless cut, a urinary tract infection, or even a common cold.

According to The UK Sepsis Trust, five people lose their lives every hour in the UK due to sepsis.

The symptoms can mimic those of other illnesses, which is why even the most diligent healthcare professionals may overlook them.

Fever, increased heart rate, and confusion can all be caused by something like the flu or a kidney infection, neither of which is likely to set off urgent alarm bells.

The busy doctor dilemma

As you are probably aware if you have tried to book a doctor’s appointment recently or if you know somebody who works in the medical profession  medical staff are stretched pretty thin at the moment.

Every day, they are faced with diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions and unfortunately, even the most dedicated and skilled doctors can miss critical signs.

When it comes to sepsis, these oversights can have devastating consequences.

A delayed diagnosis or a missed warning sign can turn a manageable infection into a battle for survival very quickly.

Many of us have heard the horror stories of patients who presented with symptoms but were sent home, only to return days later in critical condition.

For thousands of UK citizens, these are not just stories, but a tragic reality.

The diagnostic conundrum

Currently, there is no single diagnostic test for sepsis, so healthcare professionals are trained to recognise the signs early on and use a combination of tests.

The Sepsis Six is a process that has been developed to identify acutely ill patients and commence investigations and/or treatment and has proven to help improve sepsis mortality rates.

While this is of course a great step in ensuring early diagnosis and treatment, and thus avoiding concerns relating to medical negligence for any delay, we do need to ask ourselves some questions:

• Is the sepsis training adequate?
• Are our healthcare providers given the necessary time and resources to identify Sepsis quickly and effectively?
• Is there enough public awareness of the infection?

Due to the pressure faced by our NHS staff, there are unfortunately circumstances where early signs are missed which can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment and such circumstances may result in a negligence claim. Any failures to spot and treat early signs are not out of malice, but can be  due to overwhelming workloads, staff shortages or inadequate training.

So, what can we do?

We have seen firsthand the devastating impact that the delay in diagnosis of sepsis can have on families.

Knowing the symptoms of sepsis can be lifesaving, and it is important that we advocate for ourselves and our loved ones if we feel signs and symptoms are not being acted upon.

Learning from mistakes, funding for ongoing training, resources, and further support for NHS staff from the Government can go a long way in alleviating some of the pressure they face.

If you or a loved one has been affected by sepsis and you are concerned there was a delay in diagnosis, delay in treatment or mismanaged treatment, please contact us to see if we can help you   claim compensation, and to ensure your voice is heard and that justice is served.

Our offices cover Leamington, Coventry, Nuneaton, Stratford-upon-Avon and Southam.

Contact us on 01926 356072 or by email at enquiries@alsterskelley.com to arrange an appointment.