Sepsis patients left to wait up to 11 hours for treatment at failing hospital

A report has stated that patients with suspected sepsis were left waiting 11 hours for life-saving treatment at a scandal-hit A&E unit.

An independent inquiry is currently ongoing into the Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley following the deaths of dozens of patients there. This new evidence has found that patients who are showing signs of sepsis, which can prove to be fatal within hours, are being made to wait for treatment.

The report by the Care Quality Commission warned that healthcare staff at the A&E department of the hospital ‘did not understand sepsis’, and were particularly concerned that the infection was not being taken seriously, despite new NHS awareness campaigns.

One patient waited for three hours at the hospital to have their preliminary observations checked and became seriously ill during their wait.

The report made particular reference to the fact that staff ‘continued to be frustrated at the focus on sepsis’ and ‘did not fully engage with the need to assess for sepsis.’

Sepsis, known as the silent killer as it is so difficult to diagnose, claims up to 44,000 lives each year in the UK. It occurs when there is an overreaction to an infection or virus within the body and if left untreated, can cause organs to shut down.

This latest report states “Some patients with suspected sepsis were still not being identified or managed appropriately.

“Staff continued to be frustrated at the focus on sepsis and did not fully engage with the need to assess for sepsis. This included discontinuing sepsis treatment and pathways without clinical review.

“A number of clinical staff we spoke with including senior doctors and nurses still did not understand sepsis and were frustrated by the need for screening and pathways.”
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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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