The mortality rate for patients presenting with severe sepsis has been estimated as between 28% and 50% in the UK with an estimated 44,000 patient deaths and a further 65,000 people left with serious long-term complications [2, 3].
The economic burden of this patient group upon the healthcare economy due to these failures is considerable with an average cost of about £200,000 per admission, meaning improved care could lead to the potential savings of £196 million a year per annum [2].
The gold standard treatment is the completion of the sepsis six bundle within one hour of presentation [1]. If this treatment is given within one hour from diagnosis, there is a significant reduction in mortality and morbidity [3].
During a Sepsis based Quality Improvement Project within A&E at Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, it became apparent that we needed to educate the public as well as the staff. We found significant numbers of the public had not even heard of sepsis, never mind the signs and symptoms to look for. This could have prevented the patients from seeking treatment at an earlier time, leading to an unnecessary increase of the risk of harm and possibly death.
We applied for funds to create a public awareness video and were successful in securing these funds. We have now developed a public awareness video which is now being used in waiting areas, GP surgeries and websites.
It has also been accepted to be used in our neighbouring CCGs. We continue to look for new options to where we can show the video in public places, hopefully soon this will include local schools, sports grounds and video boards in Manchester town centre. We have received great feedback from the public and also from healthcare staff who have also found this video a valuable resource.
We wish to share this on Fab Stuff, so other NHS Trusts can use this video to help raise sepsis awareness around the country. The aim is to increase knowledge of the signs of sepsis and for people to seek out the treatment needed in a timely manner, hopefully reducing the impact of sepsis.
The video can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/170020968/85fe205c5a
1. CEM clinical audits 2011–2012: severe sepsis and septic shock. London: College of Emergency Medicine; 2012.
2. Health Service Ombudsman for England (2013). Time to act - severe sepsis: rapid diagnosis and treatment saves lives. London: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
3. Daniels R, Nutbeam T, McNamara G, et al (2011). The sepsis six and the severe sepsis resuscitation bundle: a prospective observational cohort study. Emergency Medicine Journal.; 28(6):507-512.