Review identification and diagnosis of sepsis by the NHS
- Final Signatures: 77
We want the Government to review how sepsis is identified and diagnosed by the NHS. This should look at what action can be taken to prevent cases where sepsis goes undiagnosed..
Found: Review identification and diagnosis of sepsis by the NHS
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of trends in the number of incidences of sepsis in the last five years.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Department and NHS England do not hold information centrally on the incidences of sepsis, and have made no assessment of the trends. There is a lack of reliable estimates of the incidence and prevalence of sepsis due to a lack of consistency in the definitions used to describe sepsis, and differences in coding between professionals and organisations. Despite this, the focus on sepsis in recent years means there is now much better awareness and improved clinical recognition of sepsis symptoms.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) does publish data on the number of death registrations where sepsis is mentioned anywhere on the death certificate in England and Wales between 2001 and 2022, as the data for 2023 has yet to be published. The following table shows the number of deaths registered where sepsis was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate in England and Wales in each of the last five years:
Year | Number of Deaths |
2018 | 23,185 |
2019 | 21,458 |
2020 | 19,324 |
2021 | 21,947 |
2022 | 25,542 |
The Department works with NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency to monitor sepsis death data. It is difficult to attribute the increase in the number of deaths registered where sepsis was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate from 2020 to 2022 to a single cause, as the incidences of infection and reasons for acute deterioration are complex and multifactorial. It is also possible that the increase reflects a greater awareness of sepsis and improved coding and recording of deaths due to sepsis.
Mentions:
1: Christina Rees (IND - Neath) its work in fighting sepsis. - Speech Link
2: Christina Rees (IND - Neath) Sepsis is indiscriminate. - Speech Link
3: Christina Rees (IND - Neath) The UK Sepsis Trust aims to end preventable deaths from sepsis and improve outcomes for sepsis survivors - Speech Link
4: Maria Caulfield (CON - Lewes) in which sepsis can present. - Speech Link
Asked by: John Whittingdale (Conservative - Maldon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many cases of hospital-acquired sepsis there were in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Department and NHS England do not centrally hold information on hospital acquired sepsis, although incidents of this may be held by local providers. The Office for National Statistics publishes the number of death registrations where sepsis is mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, in England and Wales. The following table shows the number of deaths registered where sepsis was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate in England and Wales, in each of the last ten years until 2022:
Year | Number of Deaths |
2013 | 22,967 |
2014 | 22,826 |
2015 | 24,784 |
2016 | 24,973 |
2017 | 23,709 |
2018 | 23,185 |
2019 | 21,458 |
2020 | 19,324 |
2021 | 21,947 |
2022 | 25,542 |
The figures for 2023 have not yet been published.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
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.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
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.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will take steps to ensure all infections are screened for sepsis.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Sepsis can be a devastating condition and patients rightly expect the NHS to be able to recognise, diagnose and treat it early. Clinicians are supported to recognise sepsis by using the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2), now used in 98% of acute trusts and 100% of ambulance trusts in England.
Building on the latest evidence from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will publish updated national sepsis guidance in January 2024 reflecting a targeted and measured approach to the antimicrobial treatment and management of sepsis.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to help ensure protocols for diagnosing sepsis are applied across the healthcare sector.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Sepsis can be a devastating condition and patients rightly expect the NHS to be able to recognise, diagnose and treat it early. Clinicians are supported to recognise sepsis by using the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2), now used in 98% of acute trusts and 100% of ambulance trusts in England.
Building on the latest evidence from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will publish updated national sepsis guidance in January 2024 reflecting a targeted and measured approach to the antimicrobial treatment and management of sepsis.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an estimate of the number of deaths from sepsis in each of the last five years.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Office for National Statistics publishes the number of death registrations where sepsis is mentioned anywhere on the death certificate in England and Wales. The number of deaths registered where sepsis was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate in England and Wales in each of the last five years was 23,089 in 2018, 21,458 in 2019, 19,324 in 2020, 21,947 in 2021, and 25,542 in 2022.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of processes for the management of sepsis in other countries.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Department does not routinely assess the implications of its policies for the management of sepsis on policies in other countries. However, the Government does engage in international discussions on the management of infections such as sepsis, including through the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO has recently published a global strategy on infection prevention and control, which aligns with Resolution WHA70.7, Improving the prevention, diagnosis and clinical management of sepsis.
Furthermore, the Government supports strengthening health systems in low-and-middle-income countries, to prevent and manage infection such as sepsis where the burden is greatest.
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an independent body, and its guidelines are based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and developed by experts through consultation with stakeholders in line with NICE’s internationally respected processes. Building on the latest evidence from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, NICE will publish updated national sepsis guidance in early 2024.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will take steps to ensure all Trusts with secondary care services have a clinical lead for sepsis.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
In line with the recommendations in the National Confidential Enquiry in Patient Outcome and Death Report, trusts should have a formal protocol for the early identification and management of sepsis and should also appoint a clinical lead for sepsis to champion best practice and take responsibility for the clinical governance of patients with sepsis. This lead should also work closely with those responsible for antimicrobial stewardship in their hospital. This role is not monitored by the Department, as the employment of appropriate staff to manage patients is the responsibility of individual National Health Service trusts. The report is available at the following link:
https://www.ncepod.org.uk/2015sepsis.html
NHS England is continuing to work to improve awareness and clinical recognition of acute deterioration and sepsis across the healthcare system. Responsibility for recognising acute deterioration falls to all healthcare workers. NHS England has launched multiple sepsis training toolkits, including training for general practitioner reception staff and trust executive boards.