This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-48950771
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| East of England 999 software risks missing sepsis | East of England 999 software risks missing sepsis |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Limitations in software being used by some ambulance call handlers means there is a "significant risk" signs of sepsis are being missed. | Limitations in software being used by some ambulance call handlers means there is a "significant risk" signs of sepsis are being missed. |
| The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) said it was working with suppliers so extra questions could identify a patient with sepsis. | The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) said it was working with suppliers so extra questions could identify a patient with sepsis. |
| A report found one patient who called 999 should have been flagged as a risk. | A report found one patient who called 999 should have been flagged as a risk. |
| Instead of sending an ambulance, the patient was told to go to their GP or make their own way to hospital. | |
| The patient was later found to have an immune condition and bacterial infection and had to spend seven days in hospital. | The patient was later found to have an immune condition and bacterial infection and had to spend seven days in hospital. |
| The EEAS looked at the case, which happened in December 2018, and established there was "no specific protocol" in 999 software for identifying sepsis, also referred to as blood poisoning. | The EEAS looked at the case, which happened in December 2018, and established there was "no specific protocol" in 999 software for identifying sepsis, also referred to as blood poisoning. |
| "There is a significant risk of not being able to identify this group of patients during the initial 999 phone call," the report presented to the EEAS board meeting on Wednesday found. | "There is a significant risk of not being able to identify this group of patients during the initial 999 phone call," the report presented to the EEAS board meeting on Wednesday found. |
| The report said the trust is now seeking to "ensure key phrases or symptoms, such as a high temperature or ongoing treatment, are included in the guidance for call handlers". | The report said the trust is now seeking to "ensure key phrases or symptoms, such as a high temperature or ongoing treatment, are included in the guidance for call handlers". |
| Dr Ron Daniels, NHS intensive care clinician and founder of the UK Sepsis Trust, said: "Complex critical conditions such as sepsis should be afforded the same priority as chest pains by call handlers. | Dr Ron Daniels, NHS intensive care clinician and founder of the UK Sepsis Trust, said: "Complex critical conditions such as sepsis should be afforded the same priority as chest pains by call handlers. |
| "The level of training of call handlers can be variable and no computer protocol can replace a face-to-face examination, but we would be delighted to work with the EEAS to improve training." | "The level of training of call handlers can be variable and no computer protocol can replace a face-to-face examination, but we would be delighted to work with the EEAS to improve training." |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| 'Sepsis leaves no time' | 'Sepsis leaves no time' |
| Sepsis is a condition when the body's immune system - which is meant to fight against disease and infection - starts to attack the body's own organs. | Sepsis is a condition when the body's immune system - which is meant to fight against disease and infection - starts to attack the body's own organs. |
| It can be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms can at first appear to be flu, gastroenteritis or a chest infection. | It can be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms can at first appear to be flu, gastroenteritis or a chest infection. |
| Jess Tuffield contracted sepsis when she caught a chest infection. | Jess Tuffield contracted sepsis when she caught a chest infection. |
| The 23-year-old survived a total of two bouts of the potentially-fatal condition, which can cause catastrophic organ failure. | The 23-year-old survived a total of two bouts of the potentially-fatal condition, which can cause catastrophic organ failure. |
| She's now urging others to be aware of the symptoms. | She's now urging others to be aware of the symptoms. |
| The EEAS said it was working with the software providers to develop a specific telephone screening tool. | The EEAS said it was working with the software providers to develop a specific telephone screening tool. |
| "While this development is ongoing, we have introduced a standard operation procedure to help call handlers identify patients with neutropenic sepsis and are developing other tools to support the screening of sepsis symptoms," the statement added. | "While this development is ongoing, we have introduced a standard operation procedure to help call handlers identify patients with neutropenic sepsis and are developing other tools to support the screening of sepsis symptoms," the statement added. |