A report, published by the ombudsman yesterday, highlighted a series of failings in the diagnosis and treatment of severe sepsis. It focused on 10 cases investigated by the ombudsman in which patient failed to received the treatment they needed quickly enough.
Ombudsman Julie Mellor said: ‘In the cases in our report, sadly, all patients died. In some of these cases, with better care and treatment, they may have survived. It is time for the NHS to act to save lives by improving the care of patients with sepsis.’
The ombudsman is calling for the recognition of sepsis to be improved, as well as the manner in which it is treated. There is also a need to audit cases and increase research into the condition.
Mellor added that NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have agreed to take forward the report’s recommendations.
‘We know it is no easy to spot the early signs of sepsis, but if we learn from these complaints and work to improve diagnosis and provide rapid treatment, then lives can be saved,’ she said.
There are around 100,000 hospital admissions for sepsis a year, with each case costing around £20,000. The infection is responsible for about 37,000 deaths a year.
Dr Mike Durkan, director of patient safety at NHS England, said: ‘This report and guidance will help us to build on the work that is already in place to emphasise the importance of education, early detection and prompt treatment.’
