Government plans fresh drive to tackle sepsis in NHS

The government has outlined a number of measures to be taken by the NHS, government and national health bodies to tackle the threat of sepsis.

Currently, sepsis claims around 31,000 lives and costs the NHS in England about two billion pounds annually, with around 1,000 cases a day affecting children under five. It kills more than bowel cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

As such, a new electronic tool will be introduced in autumn 2015 to prompt GPs to check for the signs and symptoms of sepsis, while the performance on this issue of every GP surgery in England will be audited by March 2015.

Meanwhile, new diagnosis and incentivised treatment goals will be implemented for hospitals, with steps to be taken to improve awareness of the condition among both medical staff and members of the public.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "It's time to apply the lessons we've already learnt on patient safety and reduce the number of lives that are needlessly lost to this silent killer."

Sepsis triggers an uncontrolled immune system response that leads to widespread inflammation, swelling and blood clotting. If left untreated, it can result in multiple organ failure and death.