Since 2015, the UK Sepsis Trust has collaborated with a number of organisations to produce operational clinical tools for all ages (except specifically for neonates) across a wide range of healthcare settings. Most recently, in 2019 these tools were formally endorsed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), following the most fundamental revisions to the Sepsis 6 since its inception
These tools are compatible with the NICE Guideline on Sepsis (NG51), and reflect an operational solution to delivery of the NHS Implementation Guidance.
Where senior clinical input is available, such clinical judgement should, in patients with sepsis and with other conditions, trump any clinical tool. However, we recognise that senior input is not always immediately available, that patients can deteriorate following a touch point with a senior, and that more junior and less experienced health professionals should be responsibly empowered to act when presented with a patient with evidence of physiological derangement in the context of infection.
That’s where the tools below come in. Identify the one most suited to your clinical area, look through it as you listen to the podcast, and prepare to use it to help you to reach decisions which will be supported by the UK Sepsis Trust and by NICE. Remember, if your clinical judgement is telling you that the tool is reaching the wrong conclusion, trust your instinct and ask a senior colleague. Conversely, if you know your patient’s sick and think it’s as a consequence of infection, these tools are here to empower you to act.
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Use these tools for OOH and telephone triage for all children aged 0-4.
Download pdfUse these tools for OOH and telephone triage for all children aged 5 to 11.
Download pdfUse these tools for OOH and telephone triage for all patients aged 12 and over.
Download pdfUse these tools for OOH and telephone triage for all women who are pregnant, or who have given birth in the last 6 weeks.
Download pdfThank you to Dr Maria Karretti, Associate Medical Director at IC24 who helped to produce these toolkits.
This tool is for use by Community Nurses caring for adults.
Download pdfThis tool is for use by Community Midwives caring for patients during pregnancy or who are within 6 weeks after giving birth.
Download pdfUse these tools in general practice for all children aged 0-4.
Download pdfUse these tools in general practice for all children aged 5 to 11.
Download pdfUse these tools in general practice for all patients aged 12 and over.
Download pdfUse these tools in general practice for all women who are pregnant, or who have given birth in the last 6 weeks.
Download pdfUse this tool in the prehospital environment for all children aged 0-4.
Download pdfUse this tool in the prehospital environment for all children aged 5 to 11.
Download pdfUse this tool in the prehospital environment for all patients aged 12 and over.
Download pdfUse this tool in the prehospital environment for all women who are pregnant, or who have given birth in the last 6 weeks.
Download pdfUse this tool for all children aged 0-5 who are inpatients in an acute hospital.
Download pdfUse this tool for all children aged 5-11 who are inpatients in an acute hospital.
Download pdfUse this tool for all patients aged 12 and over who are inpatients in an acute hospital.
Download pdfUse this tool for all women who are pregnant, or who have given birth in the last 6 weeks, who are inpatients in an acute hospital.
Download pdfThe following tools were developed by UK Sepsis Trust but are not endorsed by NICE due to limitations around scope of Clinical Guideline NG51. They remain relevant for use in the appropriate clinical areas.
Use these tools in palliative care for all patients aged 12 and over.
Download pdfUse this tool for all children aged 0-4 who are assessed in a Primary Care setting by a Dental Practitioner.
Download PowerpointUse this tool for all children aged 5-11 who are assessed in a primary care setting by a dental practitioner.
Download PowerpointUse this tool for all patients aged 12 and over who are assessed in a primary care setting by a dental practitioner.
Download Powerpoint