Response to the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) Report for Sepsis

The Advancing Quality Alliance (AQuA), a quality improvement body based in the North West of England, welcomes the findings of the recent NCEPOD report, ‘Just Say Sepsis!’

Sepsis is a severe and life threatening illness caused by the body’s exaggerated response to an infection. It is a significant cause of death and long-term health problems.  In the North West sepsis is responsible for around 13,500 hospital admissions and 3,500 deaths every year. Early recognition and prompt management can improve survival and reduce the risk of long term complications. 

The Advancing Quality (AQ) Team, based within AQuA began working with 14 Acute Trusts across the North West in September 2014 to help to improve care for patients with sepsis. To support this, a measure set was developed with 9 measures that cover the key steps in management of patients with sepsis. The measure set has 5 main aims:

1. Ensuring patients with infection have an early triage and assessment for sepsis.
2. If sepsis is present, a series of investigations and treatments are carried out.
3. If sepsis is present, the severity is graded.
4. If there are signs of severe sepsis, a senior doctor should assess the patient.
5. Ensuring ongoing monitoring of patients with sepsis.

Dr Emmanuel Nsetebu

Dr Emmanuel Nsutebu, AQ Sepsis Clinical co-lead and AQuA Patient Safety Fellow who participated in the NCEPOD review process is pleased with progress in the North West:

“The work being done in the North West is already addressing a number of recommendations which were included in the NCEPOD Report. By working with a number of Trusts across the North West, this allows us to undertake a collaborative approach to ensure that patients, no matter which hospital they visit, receive the same high standard of care for sepsis. Following the publication of the report, the AQ sepsis programme will review the recommendations and I am confident that we are in a strong position to deliver on most of these.

Organisations which are part of the AQ sepsis programme are regularly monitored on their performance in delivering all AQ sepsis measures. The data is shared amongst participating organisations on a monthly basis. Externally audited performance data is also published bi-annually at www.advancingqualitynw.nhs.uk. In addition to improving care, the AQ sepsis programme aims to improve clinical coding of the condition.

Dr Conor McGrath

Dr Conor McGrath, Clinical Co-lead for AQ sepsis and Consultant in critical care medicine explains:

“We are working hard to make sure that clinical coding for sepsis in the North West is improving. The programme aims to raise awareness of the condition and how to accurately reflect this in medical documentation. The programme also works with clinical coders to ensure a consistent approach to coding across participating organisations. Our data has shown that organisations that are part of the AQ sepsis program already have a higher level of coding for sepsis compared to the hospitals that are not participating.”  

The work of the Advancing Quality team continues to drive improvement to patient care in the North West, through strong clinical engagement, implementation of best practice, high quality data and working in collaboration across a number or conditions. More information about the team and the work that they do can be found at www.advancingqualitynw.nhs.uk.

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• For further information or to request an interview please contact, Katie Stephenson, Head of Communications and Marketing at AQuA on katie.stephenson@srft.nhs.uk or 0161 206 8025
• A full copy of the NCEPOD Sepsis report ‘Just Say Sepsis’ can be found at www.ncepod.org.uk/2015sepsis.htm