Treatment target for sepsis missed by some NHS hospitals

New figures suggest that a quarter of NHS hospital trusts are failing to provide 50 per cent of their patients with antibiotics within the recommended time.

The figures obtained from 104 trusts show that only 78 per cent of patients are being screened and 63 per cent are being treated with antibiotics within the recommended time of one hour.

Sepsis is a serious complication resulting from an infection and without prompt treatment, can result in multiple organ failure and death.

Speaking about the figures, health secretary Jeremy Hunt said “There are preventable deaths happening, but we’re bringing them down and I think that the picture is much improved from two years ago, but there’s a long way to go.

“Safety is at the top of the NHS’s in-tray … and sepsis is, if you like, a litmus test as to whether we’re getting there.

“And I would say that what it shows is that we are making progress, but there is a lot more work to do.”

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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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