Sepsis is potentially a life-threatening condition and is recognised as a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in the NHS, with around 37,000 deaths a year in England attributed to it. Of these, it is estimated that some 11,000 could have been prevented. 

Asking "Could it be sepsis?" could save lives.

NHS England has produced easy read patient information how to avoid sepsis, the signs of sepsis and problems after sepsis.

Click on the following links for:

• Sepsis e-Learning
• UK Sepsis Trust website
• NICE guidance: Sepsis

Practice sepsis leads

NCL ICB is supporting a programme to ensure that there is a sepsis lead in every practice.

The sepsis lead will raise awareness and support education for practice staff. The role can be undertaken by anyone in the practice who would most effectively achieve the objectives.

The GP practice sepsis lead/link role can be summarised as follows:

• can be fulfilled by a non-clinical person
• should consider the breadth of infection prevention control (IPC), not just sepsis
• should ensure that all relevant colleagues have done the appropriate sepsis learning as decided by the practice/ICB 
• should ensure that sepsis/IPC messages are visible in the practice
• should be involved in encouraging the use of flu vaccinations of staff and vulnerable groups among patients.