Sepsis Negligence Claims

According to the UK Sepsis Trust, there are around 150,000 cases of sepsis each year, of which 30 per cent prove fatal.

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is a condition that can occur when the body responds to an infection. Fighting the infection can cause the immune system to go into overdrive, resulting in inflammation throughout the body and damage to organs and tissues. If not treated quickly and effectively, sepsis can result in multi-organ failure and death.

Sepsis can be caused by viral, bacterial and fungal infections. The precise cause of the infection and drugs to which it will be sensitive must be identified to administer effective treatment which requires a large number of tests and investigations.

Early diagnosis and treatment of sepsis is vital to preventing deterioration and permanent injury, aiding prompt recovery and patient survival. Accepted thinking is that if sepsis is diagnosed and treated in the first hour following presentation, a patient has more than an 80 per cent survival rate. After the sixth hour, this plummets to around 30 per cent.

NICE Guideline 51 applies to primary, secondary and tertiary care and sets out what is required of health professionals in terms of examination, tests and investigations that should be undertaken where sepsis is suspected and the medical treatment that should be commenced.

Fieldfisher’s clinical negligence team frequently sees cases involving injury to individuals due to sepsis, including maternal sepsis following birth or termination.

How do I start a sepsis negligence claim?

If you would like to pursue a sepsis claim, please contact our team. We are one of the UK's leading clinical negligence law firms. We will advise and support you throughout the claims process, ensuring you receive the best possible outcome.

You can find out more about making a medical negligence claim here.

How much will it cost me to make a sepsis claim?

We work on a no win, no fee basis.

If you’re suffering from the impact of a sepsis, you can seek legal advice as soon as possible. You generally have three years to make such a claim.

Contact us

If you think you or a family member received negligent treatment in a sepsis case, please speak to one of the team to discuss your situation in confidence.

For a free, no obligation call with one of our medical negligence experts, please dial 0800 358 3848, email personalinjury@fieldfisher.com, or complete our online enquiry form.