Sepsis is claiming too many lives because hospitals are making the same mistakes they made ten years ago, the ombudsman warns

Sepsis is still claiming too many lives as hospitals make the same mistakes they did a decade ago, the health ombudsman has warned.

Rob Behrens said some progress has been made in diagnosis and treatment since his practice’s ground-breaking Time to Act report was released in 2013.

However, his research has shown that some lessons are still not learned and that repeated mistakes cost lives.

Errors identified include delays in diagnosis and treatment, poor communication and management, and missed opportunities for follow-up care.

A new report from the Ombudsman – Spotlight on Sepsis: Your Stories, Your Rights – concludes that “significant improvements are urgently needed to prevent further deaths”.

It says there are many tragic cases where patients have died, but the outcome could have been different if they or their families had been listened to.

According to the UK Sepsis Trust, around 48,000 deaths are attributed to sepsis each year.

Known as the “silent killer,” sepsis occurs when an infection, such as blood poisoning, triggers a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs.

If the infection is caught early, it can be controlled with antibiotics before the body goes into overdrive.

However, early symptoms can easily be confused with milder illnesses, so diagnosis can be difficult.

Because a patient’s condition can deteriorate rapidly, prompt diagnosis and treatment are critical.

The Mail’s End the Sepsis Scandal campaign helped raise awareness of the symptoms and thereby reduce the number of missed cases.

This led to the publication of NHS quality standards for sepsis, but the new report shows there is still a long way to go.

Known as the “silent killer,” sepsis occurs when an infection, such as blood poisoning, triggers a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs

Mr Behrens said: “It frustrates and saddens me that the same mistakes we highlighted ten years ago are still happening.”

“The NHS must listen to patients and their families when they raise their concerns. “It must be sepsis aware.”

Melissa Mead, whose 1-year-old son William died of sepsis in 2014 after doctors dismissed concerns, had the report reviewed by experts.

She said: “I think this report, nine years after William’s death, really reveals the prevalence of sepsis cases.”

“Too many lives are lost in avoidable circumstances.”

The Health Secretary has promised to introduce the “Martha Rule” to give patients the right to a second opinion.

Steve Barclay made his pledge after meeting Merope Mills, whose daughter Martha, 13, developed sepsis and died after doctors refused to admit her to intensive care.