Sepsis Negligence Claims
Medical Negligence Solicitors in Oldham, helping clients across the North West
Sepsis Negligence Claims Solicitors
Sepsis is a life-threatening emergency where the body’s own immune response to an infection begins to attack its tissues and organs. When sepsis is missed or its treatment is delayed, patients can be left with permanent organ damage or amputations, and in the most serious cases families can be left grieving an avoidable death. Where a healthcare provider has failed to meet the required standard of care, our specialist medical negligence team can help you to secure the compensation that you deserve.
If you or a loved one has suffered avoidable harm as a result of the failure to diagnose or treat sepsis, our experienced medical negligence team can help. To discuss your sepsis negligence claim with a specialist medical negligence solicitor, please either telephone us on 01457 761 320 or email
kenneth.lees@odonnellsolicitors.co.uk, and a member of the team will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Understanding Sepsis Negligence Claims
Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition caused when the body’s immune system is triggered by an infection and begins to attack its own tissues and organs. It is a medical emergency requiring rapid diagnosis and treatment. Without prompt care, sepsis can progress to severe sepsis, septic shock, organ failure, and death.
The Sepsis Alliance describes sepsis as the immune system triggering reactions including inflammation, which can result in decreased blood pressure, reducing the blood supply to vital organs and starving them of oxygen. Groups who are at higher risk of contracting infections are at higher risk of developing sepsis, including the very young, the very old, those with chronic illnesses, those with a weakened or impaired immune system, and those who are malnourished.
Because sepsis can develop rapidly and its symptoms overlap with many other conditions, timely diagnosis and treatment is one of the most challenging areas of emergency and hospital medicine. A sepsis negligence claim looks at whether the care provided by a GP, hospital, or emergency clinician fell below the standard of a responsible body of medical opinion, and whether that failure caused or materially contributed to the injury and loss sustained.
What Are the Symptoms of Sepsis?
The UK Sepsis Trust advises that because there is no single sign or symptom of sepsis, the presentation of adults and children must be carefully considered.
Symptoms in adults
The symptoms of sepsis in adults include:
- Slurred speech or confusion.
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain.
- Passing no urine in a day.
- Severe breathlessness.
- Skin mottled or discoloured.
Symptoms in children
The symptoms of sepsis in children include:
- Being cold to touch.
- A mottled or bluish appearance, or very pale skin.
- A rash that does not fade when pressed.
- Rapid breathing.
- Convulsions.
- Lethargy.
- Loss of appetite (under 5 years old).
- Vomiting repeatedly (under 5 years old).
- No urination in 12 hours (under 5 years old).
Because there is no single symptom of sepsis in adults or children, healthcare professionals should be alert to any combination of these signs, particularly in a patient with a known infection, a recent surgical procedure, or a compromised immune system. A failure to recognise these red flag symptoms is one of the most common features of sepsis negligence claims.
Types of Sepsis Negligence Claims We Can Help With
The specialist medical negligence team at O’Donnell Solicitors has extensive experience of advising clients who have suffered as a result of the misdiagnosis or delayed treatment of sepsis. These claims involve careful analysis of the medical records and the impact on the client, to ensure that meaningful compensation is secured to meet their future needs.
We regularly advise on sepsis negligence claims arising from a wide range of failings in emergency, hospital, GP, and community care, including:
- GP negligence in failing to recognise the red flag symptoms of sepsis.
- NHS 111 misdirection or failure to escalate red flag symptoms.
- A&E or urgent treatment centre failures to identify sepsis.
- Failure to arrange urgent blood tests, urine tests, or imaging.
- Failure to implement the Sepsis Six protocol within one hour of admission.
- Delayed administration of broad spectrum antibiotics.
- Failure to give intravenous fluids to maintain blood pressure and organ function.
- Failure to identify and treat the underlying source of infection.
- Failure to escalate care to intensive care or a high dependency unit where indicated.
- Sepsis following surgery, hospital-acquired infection, or catheter-related infection.
- Post-natal sepsis following childbirth.
- Sepsis in vulnerable groups including the very young, the very old, and the immunocompromised.
- Fatal claims and inquests arising from complications of untreated or delayed sepsis.
For more information on how a medical negligence claim works, including time limits, funding and compensation, please see our Medical Negligence page.
How Should Sepsis Be Diagnosed and Treated?
Because there is no single test to diagnose sepsis, diagnosis is achieved by considering the presenting symptoms, the patient’s past and recent medical history, and the results of a wide range of tests including blood tests, urine tests, x-ray, CT scan, and MRI scan.
If sepsis is diagnosed or suspected, broad spectrum antibiotics should be administered to target the infection, and intravenous fluids should be given to maintain blood pressure and organ function.
The UK Sepsis Trust advocates the use of the Sepsis Six approach for suspected sepsis cases within one hour of admission to hospital, which includes:
- Giving oxygen to keep oxygen saturation above 94%.
- Taking blood cultures.
- Giving IV antibiotics.
- Giving a fluid challenge.
- Checking full blood count and measuring lactate.
- Measuring urine output.
As a consequence of increased awareness and training, the vast majority of patients presenting with signs and symptoms of sepsis are diagnosed and receive appropriate treatment in a timely manner. However, we still see examples of misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis or treatment of sepsis, which can lead to significant long-term physical and psychological problems, and in the most serious cases death.
If you have experienced a misdiagnosis of sepsis of delayed diagnosis and treatment of sepsis and you have suffered injury and loss as a result, you should contact our specialist medical negligence team for further advice on your claim.
Why Choose O’Donnell Solicitors for Your Sepsis Negligence Claim
O’Donnell Solicitors’ Medical Negligence Department is headed by Kenneth Lees and supported by a team with over a decade of combined experience in clinical negligence litigation. We offer a free, no-obligation initial consultation, and the vast majority of claims can be funded by way of a no-win, no-fee agreement. As a regional firm acting for clients across the North West, we combine specialist expertise with a personal and accessible service.
Local Medical Negligence Solicitors Throughout Saddleworth and Oldham
We recognise how daunting making a medical negligence claim can be and have taken great care to create a modern, welcoming environment for our clients to visit us. Our three office locations in Uppermill Village and Grasscroft offer convenience and accessible legal services to our visiting clients. We are also able to provide online appointments as and where our clients prefer. In some cases, and where required, we can deliver our entire service remotely.
Speak to a Medical Negligence Specialist Today
If you would like to discuss your sepsis negligence claim with a specialist medical negligence solicitor, please email Kenneth.Lees@odonnellsolicitors.co.uk or telephone 01457 761 320 and a member of the team will contact you for a free, no obligation discussion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sepsis Negligence
Sepsis negligence occurs when a healthcare provider fails to recognise, diagnose, or treat sepsis in accordance with a reasonable standard of care, and that failure causes or materially contributes to injury and loss. Common examples include a GP or NHS 111 clinician failing to escalate red flag symptoms, an A&E doctor missing the diagnosis, a delay in administering antibiotics, or a failure to implement the Sepsis Six protocol on admission to hospital.
Yes, in many cases. A delayed diagnosis of sepsis can form the basis of a successful medical negligence claim where the healthcare provider failed to recognise the symptoms, failed to arrange the necessary tests, or failed to start treatment quickly enough. Claims can compensate for the avoidable pain and suffering, prolonged hospitalisation, organ damage, amputations, psychological injury, and any long-term care needs resulting from the delay.
The UK Sepsis Trust advocates the use of the Sepsis Six protocol within one hour of admission for any patient with suspected sepsis. This includes giving oxygen, taking blood cultures, giving IV antibiotics, giving a fluid challenge, checking full blood count and measuring lactate, and measuring urine output. A failure to implement these interventions within the first hour is often central to a sepsis negligence claim.
Compensation for sepsis negligence claims varies significantly depending on the extent of the injury and its impact on the client’s life. General damages compensate for pain, suffering and loss of amenity, including any lasting physical or psychological injury. Special damages cover past and future losses such as loss of earnings, care and assistance, prosthetics, rehabilitation, treatment costs, aids and equipment, and any adaptations required to the client’s home. In serious cases involving amputation, organ failure, or long-term disability, compensation can be substantial.
Yes. Where a family member has died as a result of sepsis negligence, the person entitled to administer the deceased’s estate can bring a fatal medical negligence claim on behalf of the estate and any dependants. This can include compensation for the deceased’s pain and suffering prior to death, the statutory bereavement award, funeral costs, and loss of dependency on the deceased’s income and services. Please see our fatal claims and inquests page for more information.
Proving a sepsis negligence claim requires independent expert medical evidence to establish that the care provided fell below the standard of a responsible body of medical opinion, and that the failure caused or materially contributed to the injury and loss sustained. Key evidence usually includes the medical records, imaging, blood test results, observation charts, and expert reports from specialists in emergency medicine, microbiology, or intensive care. Our specialist medical negligence team will investigate the claim thoroughly and instruct the right experts to build the strongest possible case.