The Royal Free London has presented its work on identifying and treating sepsis, which has helped deliver a 10% reduction in mortality since 2010, at the national ‘Sepsis Unplugged’ conference.

Sepsis is a life-threatening, overwhelming response to an infection. The trust’s severe sepsis six pathway is a set of interventions which, if delivered by a healthcare professional within an hour of diagnosis, can significantly decrease mortality.  

The pathway has been successfully implemented using improvement science methodology in eight pilot departments at the Royal Free Hospital and was recently extended to obstetrics and the emergency department at Barnet Hospital.

As well as reducing mortality, the sepsis pathway has halved the average length of overall hospital stay for sepsis sufferers and reduced intensive care admissions where it has been introduced.

The trust’s overall approach to tackling sepsis was presented at the conference as well as the more recent successful obstetric sepsis pilot work. Members of the team also presented posters on the role of ‘sepsis champions’ and the implementation of a sepsis pathway for paediatric care.

The conference, organised by the UK Sepsis Trust, took place in Nottingham on 21 and 22 May. 

Dr Neil Thompson, consultant for paediatrics and paediatric emergency medicine, said: ‘It is very encouraging that our work is gaining national – and even international – recognition, which is a real testament to the team’s work.

“The approach we have developed has demonstrably improved patient safety and saved lives, so we are very pleased to be able to share our work more widely.”

The UK Sepsis trust is a charity dedicated to helping improve the way healthcare providers deal with sepsis. 

Image: (L-R) Sarah Stanley (nurse consultant patient at risk and resus team), Hannie Bartolome (A&E sister), Jessica Clifford (A&E sister), Mary Ann Escalante (practice educator), Lauren Rowley (paediatric A&E nurse), Lauren Huckerby (paediatric foundation year two doctor), Caitriona Stapleton (sepsis workstream improvement lead), Dr Neil Thompson (paediatric consultant).

ENDS

Notes to editors

Media contacts: rf.mediaenquiries@nhs.net or call 020 7830 2963

About the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

The Royal Free began as a pioneering organisation and continues to play a leading role in the care of patients. Our mission is to provide world class expertise and local care. In the 21st century, the Royal Free London continues to lead improvements in healthcare.

The Royal Free London attracts patients from across the country and beyond to its specialist services in liver, kidney and bone marrow transplantation, haemophilia, renal, HIV, infectious diseases, plastic surgery, immunology, vascular surgery, cardiology, amyloidosis and scleroderma and we are a member of the academic health science partnership UCLPartners.

In July 2014 Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital became part of the Royal Free London.