Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust Quality Account 2016-2017

When:
In 2016/17, we are measuring two groups of patients, those presenting to the
Emergency Department and inpatients. For these groups, ie. A&E /inpatients , we
are measuring performance against two sets of criteria:
The percentage of patients with EWS of 3 or higher, (a) on arrival in A&E,
and (b) inpatients that are suspected of Sepsis that are screen for Sepsis.
The percentage of patients with red flag Sepsis (as set in UK Sepsis Trust
/ NICE guidelines) who are administered antibiotics within the appropriate
timeframe (within 60 minutes / A&E and within 90 minutes / inpatients) and
then had an antibiotic review within 72 hours.
Outcome:
Sepsis is a common and potentially life-threatening condition where the body’s
immune system goes into overdrive in response to an infection, setting off a series
of reactions that can lead to widespread inflammation, swelling and blood clotting.
This can lead to a significant decrease in blood pressure, which can mean blood
supply to vital organs such as the brain, heart and kidneys is reduced – potentially
leading to death or long-term disability.
Sepsis is recognised as a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in the NHS,
with an estimated 106,000 people in the UK surviving sepsis and a further 44,000
deaths attributed to sepsis annually (source UK Sepsis Trust).
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) published Time to
Act in 2013, which found that recurring shortcomings in relation to the sepsis
management included:
Failure to recognise presenting symptoms and potential severity of the
illness
Delays in administering first-line treatment
Inadequate first-line treatment with fluids and antibiotics
Delays in source control of infection
Delays in senior medical input
29