Articles in ‘Sepsis negligence’ Category

Sepsis is the body’s over-response to an infection by over-fighting the infection and attacking the body’s organs and tissues. It can lead to multiple organ failure if not treated quickly. When a mother gives…

The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) investigate circumstances where the mother and/or baby have suffered an adverse event during pregnancy and/or childbirth. They periodically release reports into the risks and resulting issues that face…

It’s pretty shocking that, in the 21st century, your chances of surviving septicaemia are still dependant on where you live. In August this year, the NHS published the results of its report providing details of hospital deaths across 130 trusts in England.

Abigail Ringer explains why World Sepsis Day – held annually on 13 September – is an important date to help raise awareness of this deadly condition.

A leading sepsis research charity has raised concerns that diagnoses of sepsis may be missed or delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ben Lees takes a look.

A 30-year-old woman was represented by Kerstin Scheel; she received £165,000 in compensation for the injuries sustained when an appendicectomy was negligently performed.

A significant cause of maternal deaths in the UK results from sepsis (around 10%) (1). The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) have clear guidelines on the management of bacterial sepsis before and after pregnancy, but is this enough to prevent serious harm to mother and babies from sepsis?

Kerstin Scheel reviews the key findings from the recent MBRRACE-UK report into maternity care.

The claimant, a 39-year-old woman, received damages for the injuries she suffered as a result of the failure of the staff employed by the defendant Trust to diagnose and treat infection with Streptococcus group A following the delivery of her child. As a result of the negligence she suffered sepsis and kidney failure requiring admission to ITU; and underwent total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. She also developed post traumatic stress disorder.

The claimant, a 40-year-old woman, received damages for the injuries she suffered as a result of the failure of the staff employed by the defendant trust to diagnose and treat infection with Streptococcus group A following the delivery of her child. As a result of the negligence she suffered sepsis leading to myositis and a blistering skin rash; and underwent total hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy. She also developed post-traumatic stress disorder and a depressive episode of mild severity.

In January 2021 MBRRACE published is latest report into maternal deaths. It was noted that between 2016-2018 23 women in the UK lost their lives to sepsis, accounting for 11% of all maternal deaths in that period. The report made a number of recommendations to improve these figures going forward.

Hannah Blackwell speaks with an experienced midwife about symptoms to be aware of during pregnancy, and what to do if you don’t feel you’re being heard.