Clinical Tools for Healthcare Professionals

Clinical Tools

Please cite these tools as: Nutbeam T, Daniels R on behalf of the UK Sepsis Trust, Available at sepsistrust.org/professional-resources/clinical/, date last accessed 21st May 2022.

SCREENING AND ACTION TOOLS

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. 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. Most recently, as a result of the updated Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines from 2021 and new guidelines from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges we have updated our clinical material, which includes the Screening and Action Tools.

HOW TO USE OUR TOOLS

These tools are compatible with the NICE Guideline on Sepsis (NG51), and reflect an operational solution to delivery of the NHS Implementation Guidance. They can be used alongside our additional resources and e-learning programme.

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 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.

ACUTE HOSPITAL INPATIENTS

Acute Hospital Inpatient screening and action tools Open

Please fill in the form below and accept our terms and conditions to access the following clinical tools for Acute Hospital Inpatients:

Screening and action tool for under 5’s – Use this tool for all children aged 0-5 who are inpatients in an acute hospital.
Screening and action tool for children aged 5 – 11 – Use this tool for all children aged 5-11 who are inpatients in an acute hospital.
Screening and action tool for children and young people aged 12 – 16 – Use this tool for all patients aged 12 to 16 who are inpatients in an acute hospital.
Screening and action tool for all patients aged 16+ – Use this tool for all patients aged 16 and over who are inpatients in an acute hospital.
Screening and action tool for use in pregnancy – Use 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.
Sepsis Manual – Responsible management of sepsis, severe infection and antimicrobial stewardship.

Please submit your details to receive our tools

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COMMUNITY SERVICES

Community Nurses and Midwives screening and action tools Open

Please fill in the form below and accept our terms and conditions to access the following clinical tools for Community Services (Nurses and Midwives):

Screening and Action Tool tool for Community Nurses – This tool is for use by Community Nurses caring for adults.
Screening and Action Tool tool for Community Midwives – This tool is for use by Community Midwives caring for patients during pregnancy or who are within 6 weeks after giving birth.
Sepsis Manual – Responsible management of sepsis, severe infection and antimicrobial stewardship.

Please submit your details to receive our tools

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General Practice

General Practice screening and action tools Open

Please fill in the form below and accept our terms and conditions to access the following clinical tools for General Practice:

Screening and action tool for under 5’s – Use these tools in general practice for all children aged 0-4.
Screening and action tool for children aged 5 – 11 – Use these tools in general practice for all children aged 5 to 11.
Screening and action tool for children and young people aged 12 – 16 – Use these tools in general practice for all patients aged 12 to 16.
Screening and action tool for all patients aged 16+ – Use these tools in general practice for all patients aged 16 and over.
Screening and action tool for use in pregnancy – Use these tools in general practice for all women who are pregnant, or who have given birth in the last 6 weeks.
Sepsis Manual – Responsible management of sepsis, severe infection and antimicrobial stewardship.

Please submit your details to receive our tools

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OUT OF HOURS (OOH)/ TELEPHONE TRIAGE

Out Of Hours (OOH) and Telephone triage screening and action tools Open

Please fill in the form below and accept our terms and conditions to access the following clinical tools for Out of Hours (OOH) and telephone triage:

Screening and Action Tool tool for under 5s – Use these tools for OOH and telephone triage for all children aged 0-4.
Screening and Action Tool tool for ages 5 – 11 – Use these tools for OOH and telephone triage for all children aged 5 to 11.
Screening and Action Tool tool for adults, children, and young people 12 years and older – Use these tools for OOH and telephone triage for all patients aged 12 and over.
Screening and Action Tool tool for use in pregnancy – Use these tools for OOH and telephone triage for all women who are pregnant, or who have given birth in the last 6 weeks.
Sepsis Manual – Responsible management of sepsis, severe infection and antimicrobial stewardship.

Please submit your details to receive our tools

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PRE-HOSPITAL CARE/ AMBULANCE SERVICES

Pre-hospital Care and Ambulance Services screening and action tools Open

Please fill in the form below and accept our terms and conditions to access the following clinical tools for Pre-hospital care and Ambulance Services:

Screening and action tool for under 5’s – Use this tool in the pre-hospital environment for all children aged 0-4.
Screening and action tool for children aged 5 – 11 – Use this tool in the pre-hospital environment for all children aged 5 to 11.
Screening and action tool for children and young people aged 12 – 16 – Use these tools in the pre-hospital environment for all patients aged 12 to 16.
Screening and action tool for all patients aged 16+ – Use these tools in a pre-hospital environment for all patients aged 16 and over.
Screening and action tool for use in pregnancy – Use this tool in the prehospital environment for all women who are pregnant, or who have given birth in the last 6 weeks.
Sepsis Manual – Responsible management of sepsis, severe infection and antimicrobial stewardship.

Please submit your details to receive our tools

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The 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.

Dental Services

DECISION SUPPORT TOOL FOR PRIMARY DENTAL CARE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AGED UNDER 5 Open: Use this tool for all children aged 0-4 who are assessed in a Primary Care setting by a Dental Practitioner.
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DECISION SUPPORT TOOL FOR PRIMARY DENTAL CARE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 5-11 Open: Use this tool for all children aged 5-11 who are assessed in a primary care setting by a dental practitioner.
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DECISION SUPPORT TOOL FOR PRIMARY DENTAL CARE FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE 12 YEARS AND OVER Open: Use this tool for all patients aged 12 and over who are assessed in a primary care setting by a dental practitioner.
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PALLIATIVE CARE

SCREENING AND ACTION TOOL FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE 12 YEARS AND OVER Open: Use these tools in palliative care for all patients aged 12 and over.
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