What is sepsis?

Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning and septicaemia, is an infection which, according to UK Sepsis Trust, affects around 250,000 people each year and causes 52,000 deaths, approximately 14,000 of which are probably preventable. It occurs when the body responds to an infection and the immune system overacts, which can cause inflammation in many parts of the body and damages organs and tissues.

If not diagnosed and treated quickly, sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure and can even be fatal. If mistakes during diagnosis have been made which has led to the sepsis getting much worse, you may be entitled to No Win No Fee compensation for medical negligence.

Who is most likely to be at risk of sepsis?

Anyone can get sepsis. However those most at risk include:

• People with a weakened immune system
• People with a serious illness
• Very young children
• Elderly people
• People who have just had surgery or who have injured themselves

What are the common signs of sepsis?

There are several signs which may indicate you have sepsis. These include:

• Slurred speech - you may also feel dizzy, faint, confused, or disorientated
• Extreme shivering - you may have a fever and chills or feel cold and clammy
• Pain of your muscles - you may feel like you have flu
• Severe breathlessness - you may feel like you have a chest infection
• It feels like gastroenteritis - you may suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
• Skin discolouration - your skin may be pale, bluish, mottled or you may have a rash that doesn't fade when you press it

Whatever your symptoms, it's important that you seek medical attention immediately.

How does sepsis become a medical negligence claim?

In cases of sepsis, it’s extremely important to act fast. The UK Sepsis Trust states that patients have a dramatically increased rate of survival, around 80% if it’s diagnosed correctly and treated within an hour of the first symptoms being detected. Therefore, if there are delays in diagnosing and treating sepsis, you may be entitled to compensation.

Mistakes which have led to a medical negligence claim include:

• Misdiagnosis: Where your GP or specialist doctor believed you had a different condition and began treating it, leaving the sepsis to worsen.
• Delays in diagnosis: Where it took a long time to diagnose sepsis - you may have been kept waiting in a hospital or other medical facility.
• Test mistakes: Where the proper tests to diagnose sepsis weren’t carried out.
• Medication mistakes: You were given the wrong medication for sepsis, so treatment wasn’t as effective as it should have been.

If you or a loved one have suffered as a result of medical mistakes when dealing with sepsis, contact one of our specialists who’ll advise you whether or not you’re entitled to sepsis compensation.

Can I claim for a loved one who passed away as a result of sepsis?

If a medical professional was negligent in misdiagnosing or delaying diagnosing sepsis which has led to the death of a loved one, you may be entitled to claim sepsis compensation.

Contact our specialist sepsis solicitors who will advise you what you’re entitled to and will get you the justice you deserve.

The vast majority of our sepsis medical negligence cases are funded by a No Win No Fee agreement, which means if you lose your case, you won't have to pay any fees and there’s no financial risk to you.

How much time do I have to make a sepsis claim?

If you believe you have a claim, it’s important that you seek advice from a solicitor who specialises in medical negligence cases as soon as possible, as there are time limits in place in England, Scotland and Wales.

Generally, a sepsis claim should be made within three years from the date you or a loved one suffered as a result of medical negligence. However, there may be exceptions.

To read more about the time limits of making a claim, please read our medical negligence FAQs or our medical negligence claims guide.

Why choose Slater and Gordon's sepsis solicitors?

Not only do we have many years' experience securing compensation for medical negligence, we also have the utmost sensitivity to handle your case with great care.

Contact us for a free consultation to help you understand whether or not you have a claim or call 0330 041 5869.

Can I change my solicitors to Slater and Gordon?

If you or a family member have been diagnosed with sepsis as a result of medical negligence, and you feel that you're not getting the specialist legal advice you need from your current solicitor, we'll be happy to discuss switching your case to Slater and Gordon. Simply call our experts on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online.