Charity marks World Sepsis Day with viral petition urging action in light of Lord Darzi’s NHS investigation

• The findings of Lord Darzi’s independent review of the National Health Service echo a national sepsis charity’s calls for action
• The UK Sepsis Trust’s petition calling for Government to ‘step up’ its act on sepsis has accumulated over 35,000 signatures since launch at start of September for sepsis awareness month
• The charity has three key asks to help improve sepsis outcomes and reduce the total number of deaths each year in the UK from 48,000  

TODAY, on World Sepsis Day, 13^th September 2024, the UK Sepsis Trust is calling for urgent action to address health inequalities, prevent avoidable infections, and integrate advanced diagnostics into NHS clinical systems to improve sepsis care.  

Recent reports from the National Child Mortality Database and research from the University of Manchester, have shed light on the critical role health inequalities play in sepsis outcomes; these findings underscore the need for equitable access to healthcare services, particularly in sepsis cases, where delays in diagnosis and treatment contribute to 48,000 deaths in the UK each year.  

As highlighted in Lord Darzi’s Independent Review of the NHS, published yesterday, there are stark regional variations in access to GP services—an issue mirrored in the management of sepsis across the country. 

UK Sepsis Trust’s Founder & Joint CEO Dr Ron Daniels said: “To further strengthen our health system’s ability to respond to sepsis, we need to urgently integrate diagnostics into clinical systems, enabling healthcare professionals to make rapid, targeted decisions.

“This forms one of the three key demands in our charity’s petition to the Government, which has gathered over 35,000 signatures since the start of September. Our petition calls for sepsis to be prioritised alongside heart attacks and strokes, ensuring that rapid diagnostics are available at every patient touchpoint within the NHS.  

“Sepsis has far-reaching economic impacts. As highlighted in Lord Darzi’s report, the NHS has struggled to support individuals in their recovery from critical illness, often failing to help them return to work.

“This is not only a health issue but an economic one. On World Sepsis Day, we renew our call for the Government and the NHS to take immediate action. Sepsis is an emergency. Let’s prioritise its prevention and treatment to save lives, improve outcomes for survivors, and safeguard the future of our health system.” 

Even when sepsis outcomes do not result in tragic loss of life, many survivors and their families continue to suffer from long-term health issues and challenges. Around 40% of survivors have one or more of cognitive, psychological or physical sequelae, with nearly 80,000 people each year suffering with potentially life-changing after effects.

UKST provides free, Support Nurse-led services to survivors, many of whom find their ability to function is impacted by Post Sepsis Syndrome (PSS) – with symptoms reported by sepsis survivors including fatigue (80%), anxiety (53%), and trouble concentrating (47%). 37% report difficulty performing tasks they could previously, while 34% suffer with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It’s easy to see how this affects peoples’ ability to work.  

In a survey conducted in August 2024, UKST found that 83% survivors were not told about PSS by healthcare professionals, and 68% of survivors and 64% of caregivers of survivors, weren’t given information about support resources and services after sepsis.

To help improve sepsis outcomes, The UK Sepsis Trust is calling for the government to:  

• Measure and publish performance data on the sepsis care pathway. Reliable data are needed to understand the quality of NHS sepsis care, identify opportunities for improvement and provide targeted support where needed. 
• Empower frontline decision-making with better integration of rapid diagnostics. There is no single test to diagnose sepsis, but diagnostics help doctors make important decisions about the types of treatment to use. Diagnostic tests are typically done in centralised laboratories, which means clinicians have to wait for the results. Time is of the essence when treating sepsis, so health professionals need access to fast and reliable tests to reduce preventable deaths. 
• Raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of sepsis and signpost rehabilitation services to reduce pressures on the NHS. Empowering the public to ‘Just Ask: Could it be Sepsis?” can help save lives, and ensuring survivors have access to ongoing care and support will help keep them well and out of hospital. 

Sign and support the charity’s petition here: Make Sepsis a Priority in the NHS.