The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has launched a new sepsis toolkit to support healthcare professionals in identifying and managing the condition in patients.
The toolkit has been designed to help GPs and other healthcare professionals in primary care with a series of educational materials, updated guidance and training resources.
The RCGP has estimated that there are over 100,000 cases of sepsis in England each year.
The blood poisoning condition can, in serious cases, lead to death if not treated in time.
Earlier this week, Jeremy Hunt, health secretary, said the Department of Health is “committed to a new campaign that will raise awareness of the condition”.
He also told the Daily Mail that the department has “worked closely with the UK Sepsis Trust to make sure it will help people spot the signs and get the help they need.”
The toolkit also provides valuable information for patients, carers and parents, including an adult and child sepsis “symptom checker”, to illustrate the signs and symptoms they should look for.
Dr Simon Stockley, RCGP’s clinical lead for sepsis, who developed the toolkit, comments: “Sepsis is responsible for 37,000 deaths a year in England alone.
“Recognising sepsis at an early stage among the huge number of ordinary infections can be a challenge even to experienced clinicians.
“The RCGP’s sepsis toolkit is designed to help GPs better identify possible sepsis, and provide education resources for healthcare professionals and patients alike.”
The toolkit also outlines national reports and legislation surrounding sepsis, as well as background and information for commissioners on the illness.
Sepsis is also a clinical spotlight project for the RCGP for 2016/2017.
The toolkit was launched in partnership with Health Education England and NHS England, it can be accessed here.
