Sepsis warning issued after Banstead woman’s death
A sepsis charity says more lives could be saved if patients were properly assessed at A&E, after a woman who was twice sent home with a suspected cold later died from the illness
A charity bike ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats is underway in memory of Anne Channevy Walsh, who died from sepsis in 2024.
The ride is organised by Anne’s family and friends and supported by the UK Sepsis Trust. It aims to raise awareness about sepsis, a condition that can be hard to detect but can quickly become life-threatening.
Dr Ron Daniels, founder and chief medical officer of the UK Sepsis Trust, explained that sepsis is “really difficult to spot” because many people visit healthcare providers with infections that are not life-threatening.
He said, “Most infections do not even need antibiotics,” and added that viral infections, in particular, “will not respond to any antibiotics.” This means that healthcare professionals must carefully distinguish between common infections and those that could lead to sepsis.
Dr Daniels pointed out that sepsis can affect people at any age and may arise from any infection, which makes diagnosis complex. He said, “No two people with sepsis present exactly the same.” Because of this, it requires both public awareness and healthcare staff training to correctly identify and treat the condition.
While public awareness of sepsis has improved, Dr Daniels said that “96% of the British public know about sepsis,” but many do not recognise the symptoms or know “how and when to access healthcare.”
He said people should feel confident to ask healthcare workers, “Could it be sepsis?” and if they are dismissed, to seek reassurance by asking for explanations about why sepsis has been ruled out. He says it is important to ask what symptoms to watch for and when to return for medical help.
Dr Daniels also said that many healthcare professionals are trained to spot sepsis, but the pressures on the NHS mean they do not always have time to ask the right questions or fully assess patients.
He said healthcare organisations need to create a culture that “empowers health professionals to look for sepsis, to treat sepsis and they give them the resources including diagnostics to get it right.”
For those worried about themselves or loved ones, Dr Daniels gave clear advice on how to act. He said to first ask if the symptoms could be sepsis. If unsure or not taken seriously, ask, “How can you reassure me that this is not sepsis?” and what signs to watch for if symptoms worsen.
If concerns remain, he said there is “Martha’s rule,” a process in over half of NHS hospitals where patients or relatives can request a second opinion from a more experienced clinician, especially if someone appears critically ill.
Dr Daniels said this rule is named after Martha Mills, a young girl who died of sepsis at 13, and it aims to ensure critical cases are not overlooked.
He explained that a national sepsis pathway is being developed with the Department of Health and NHS England to standardise diagnosis and treatment. This pathway will provide funding and resources to hospitals, GP surgeries, ambulance services, and pharmacies to improve sepsis care.
If fully implemented, Dr Daniels said “thousands of lives every year” could be saved across the UK.
Reflecting on Anne’s case, he said that “had she been taken seriously at that first presentation to the A&E, had they taken blood tests and really taken care of the situation then, in all probability, she would survive.”
He acknowledged that some cases of sepsis are too aggressive to save, but said many deaths are avoidable with earlier diagnosis and treatment.
The charity hopes the bike ride will help spread this message to communities nationwide, encouraging people to recognise sepsis signs and seek help promptly.