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Sepsis: How good are hospitals at treating 'hidden killer'? | Sepsis: How good are hospitals at treating 'hidden killer'? |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Patients' lives are being put at risk because of delays giving them treatment for sepsis, experts are warning. | Patients' lives are being put at risk because of delays giving them treatment for sepsis, experts are warning. |
Hospitals are meant to put patients on an antibiotic drip within an hour when sepsis is suspected - but research by BBC News suggests a quarter of patients in England wait longer. | Hospitals are meant to put patients on an antibiotic drip within an hour when sepsis is suspected - but research by BBC News suggests a quarter of patients in England wait longer. |
Delays raise the chance of potentially fatal complications such as organ failure. | Delays raise the chance of potentially fatal complications such as organ failure. |
But NHS England said there were signs performance was improving. | But NHS England said there were signs performance was improving. |
And it said hospitals were getting better at spotting those at risk sooner. | And it said hospitals were getting better at spotting those at risk sooner. |
Dr Ron Daniels, of the UK Sepsis Trust, said the "concerning" figures showed patients were being put at risk. | Dr Ron Daniels, of the UK Sepsis Trust, said the "concerning" figures showed patients were being put at risk. |
In some hospitals, over half of patients face delays. | In some hospitals, over half of patients face delays. |
Dr Daniels said the one-hour window was "essential to increase the chances of surviving". | Dr Daniels said the one-hour window was "essential to increase the chances of surviving". |
"There is no reason really why it should take longer," he added. | "There is no reason really why it should take longer," he added. |
The Sepsis Trust believes there are about 250,000 cases every year in the UK - and more than 50,000 deaths. | The Sepsis Trust believes there are about 250,000 cases every year in the UK - and more than 50,000 deaths. |
'My husband died after six-day delay giving antibiotics' | 'My husband died after six-day delay giving antibiotics' |
Last July, Simon Smith went to his local A&E department, at Russells Hall Hospital, in Dudley, West Midlands, with pain in his leg. | Last July, Simon Smith went to his local A&E department, at Russells Hall Hospital, in Dudley, West Midlands, with pain in his leg. |
He quickly started deteriorating, developing a high temperature and heart rate. | He quickly started deteriorating, developing a high temperature and heart rate. |
But it was a full six days before he was given antibiotics. By that time, sepsis had taken hold. | But it was a full six days before he was given antibiotics. By that time, sepsis had taken hold. |
Fit and healthy at 51, he fought the infection for four months before he died. | Fit and healthy at 51, he fought the infection for four months before he died. |
At one point, he was even discharged back home - but his liver was damaged and he was readmitted within a few weeks. | At one point, he was even discharged back home - but his liver was damaged and he was readmitted within a few weeks. |
His widow, Hayley, said: "He was so strong - if it had not been for that I think he would have died a lot earlier. | His widow, Hayley, said: "He was so strong - if it had not been for that I think he would have died a lot earlier. |
"I am just so angry about the delay giving him antibiotics - that could have made all the difference. | "I am just so angry about the delay giving him antibiotics - that could have made all the difference. |
"He had all the signs. | "He had all the signs. |
"I've seen notes acknowledging he should definitely have had them on day two - but it didn't happen." | "I've seen notes acknowledging he should definitely have had them on day two - but it didn't happen." |
Dudley Group NHS Trust, which runs the unit where Mr Smith was treated, said it had offered its "heartfelt condolences" to his family. | Dudley Group NHS Trust, which runs the unit where Mr Smith was treated, said it had offered its "heartfelt condolences" to his family. |
It said it recognised there were "areas of learning" from the case but could not comment further until the inquest into his death had been held. | It said it recognised there were "areas of learning" from the case but could not comment further until the inquest into his death had been held. |
What is sepsis? | What is sepsis? |
Sepsis is triggered by infections but it develops because of an over-reaction by the immune system. | Sepsis is triggered by infections but it develops because of an over-reaction by the immune system. |
The infection could come from anywhere - even a contaminated cut or insect bite. | The infection could come from anywhere - even a contaminated cut or insect bite. |
Normally, the immune system kicks in to fight an infection and stop it spreading. | Normally, the immune system kicks in to fight an infection and stop it spreading. |
But if the infection manages to spread quickly round the body, then the immune system will launch a massive immune response to fight it. | But if the infection manages to spread quickly round the body, then the immune system will launch a massive immune response to fight it. |
And this can have catastrophic effects on the body, leading to septic shock, organ failure and even death. | And this can have catastrophic effects on the body, leading to septic shock, organ failure and even death. |
Dubbed the "hidden killer", it is hard to spot as there is not a simple definitive test or obvious symptom. | Dubbed the "hidden killer", it is hard to spot as there is not a simple definitive test or obvious symptom. |
To counter this, hospitals have been given detailed guidance on how to monitor and treat patients. | To counter this, hospitals have been given detailed guidance on how to monitor and treat patients. |
It lists symptoms to look out for and says where sepsis is suspected, antibiotics must be given via a drip. | It lists symptoms to look out for and says where sepsis is suspected, antibiotics must be given via a drip. |
Hospitals must then perform lab tests to ensure the best type of antibiotic is used. | Hospitals must then perform lab tests to ensure the best type of antibiotic is used. |
What has BBC News found? | What has BBC News found? |
For the past three years, hospitals in England have had to report how well they are identifying and treating sepsis. | For the past three years, hospitals in England have had to report how well they are identifying and treating sepsis. |
A small part of their budget - less than 1% - has been held back in recent years to give them an incentive to take part and improve. | A small part of their budget - less than 1% - has been held back in recent years to give them an incentive to take part and improve. |
One of the measures is how quickly antibiotics are given. | One of the measures is how quickly antibiotics are given. |
The BBC has analysed figures from more than 100 hospital trusts, around three quarters of those in England. | The BBC has analysed figures from more than 100 hospital trusts, around three quarters of those in England. |
They indicate that around 75% of patients got treatment within an hour between January and March. | They indicate that around 75% of patients got treatment within an hour between January and March. |
Performance on wards and in A&E was similar, but A&E departments have improved since early 2017 when about three fifths of patients were started on antibiotics within an hour. | Performance on wards and in A&E was similar, but A&E departments have improved since early 2017 when about three fifths of patients were started on antibiotics within an hour. |
But there were huge variations between different trusts, with a number failing to quickly treat most of their patients in one hour. | But there were huge variations between different trusts, with a number failing to quickly treat most of their patients in one hour. |
NHS England's Celia Ingham Clark said alongside treatment, making sure patients were screened promptly for sepsis was important to identify potential cases - and this was something the NHS had also been making improvements on. | NHS England's Celia Ingham Clark said alongside treatment, making sure patients were screened promptly for sepsis was important to identify potential cases - and this was something the NHS had also been making improvements on. |
"It's important not to automatically give antibiotics to everyone, instead we want to identify the sickest patients and get them assessed and then quickly give them antibiotics." | "It's important not to automatically give antibiotics to everyone, instead we want to identify the sickest patients and get them assessed and then quickly give them antibiotics." |
Hospitals across the rest of the UK are also expected to treat patients within an hour. | Hospitals across the rest of the UK are also expected to treat patients within an hour. |
In Wales, 71% of A&E patients and 83% of hospital patients had antibiotics within an hour, alongside checks and tests. | In Wales, 71% of A&E patients and 83% of hospital patients had antibiotics within an hour, alongside checks and tests. |
No local figures were available. | No local figures were available. |
Neither Scotland or Northern Ireland could provide any recent figures. | Neither Scotland or Northern Ireland could provide any recent figures. |
What are the symptoms? | What are the symptoms? |
In adults: | In adults: |
In children: | In children: |
Have you had sepsis? Did you experience delays in treatment? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
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