Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address any inequality in reliability of diagnosis and immediate care between (1) sepsis, and (2) stroke.

Sepsis and stroke are time sensitive and potentially life-threatening conditions, both taken very seriously by the Government. However, they are distinct conditions and present different diagnostic and treatment challenges.

The National Optimal Stroke Imaging pathway provides a pathway to rapid intervention based on a clear diagnosis through imaging, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans. Thrombolysis and thrombectomy rates have risen, indicating effective immediate stroke care. In comparison, sepsis has no specific diagnostic test, and the signs and symptoms can vary hugely. As a result, sepsis can be challenging to diagnose.

The Government is focused on improving the recognition and early diagnosis of sepsis by healthcare professionals, including through NHS England’s online sepsis training programmes, so that unwell patients are identified promptly and started on immediate life-saving treatment. The National Early Warning Score (NEWS2), is a clinical screening tool for the recognition of acutely unwell adults, including those with sepsis. NEWS2 supports clinicians to determine the need for immediate care and is used in 99% of acute trusts and 100% of ambulance trusts in England.

Furthermore, the Department continues to fund research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, to improve our understanding of sepsis diagnosis and immediate management.