Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if her Department will take steps to review historic cases of sepsis to help (a) identify, (b) treat and (c) prevent mortality arising from sepsis.

The Department works closely with NHS England and other partners in the health system to support healthcare professionals to detect and treat sepsis.

Reports of patient safety events from all trusts in the National Health Service, including on sepsis, are used by NHS England to identify new or under recognised patient safety issues, further areas of review, and appropriate action that may be required. The responsibility for specific assessments, reviews and management of sepsis by NHS trusts falls to local providers.

In addition, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care receives Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) reports, issued by a coroner in the event of an avoidable death, including from sepsis, outlining any clinical, administrative or policy errors. The Secretary of State has a legal duty to provide a response outlining action taken, or proposed, and setting out a timetable for action. PFD reports and their responses are published online by the Chief Coroner’s Office.