Developed by HealthHero in close collaboration with the UK Sepsis Trust, the tool requires no clinical knowledge and supports users to assess whether they might be at risk of sepsis and what action to take depending on their symptoms. The tool is the first of its kind to be digitised and placed directly in the hands of the public.
In the UK, five people lose their lives to sepsis every hour. It is a life-threatening condition which arises when the body’s response to infection harms its own tissues and organs. It affects 245,000 people in the UK annually, claiming 48,000 lives. Sepsis can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and death if not recognised early and treated promptly.
Sepsis arises in people of any age, whether or not they’ve got underlying illness, and although it always starts with an infection (such as pneumonia, chest infections or UTIs), it’s unknown why some people develop sepsis in response to these common infections when others do not. As a result, sepsis presents very differently in each patient, and can be challenging to identify. Early diagnosis and swift action are essential to improving outcomes for people with sepsis.
HealthHero’s public-facing sepsis tool has been developed to ensure inclusivity for all users, and so recognises that symptoms like rashes can appear differently on different skin tones. For example, the tool has built in awareness that a meningitis rash might be red on lighter skin, but brown or purple on darker skin, and it tailors its guidance accordingly. Users must be 16 years of age or older, but the tool can be applied to people of any age, so adults can use it if concerned about a child, for example, and is appropriate to use in relation to pregnant people, too.
The tool is available from Friday 12th September, ahead of World Sepsis Day on Saturday 13th, and will be accessible via the UK Sepsis Trust website. It asks users to enter basic details like their name or age, then asks about symptoms. Based on a users’ answers, the tool gives tailored advice:
- If your risk is high, it tells you to seek urgent medical attention immediately.
- If your risk is moderate, it advises you to speak to a doctor or call 111 — and gives a summary of what to say, including key symptoms like breathing problems or dehydration.
- If your risk is low, it explains what to watch for and when to reassess.
Jason Watkins, BAFTA-winning actor and UK Sepsis Trust Ambassador, said: “We lost our daughter, Maude, in 2011, I had never even heard the word ‘sepsis’ before – I didn’t know what it was. Very few did. It is almost impossible to contemplate what may have happened if we had known more about sepsis then – if we had asked ‘could it be sepsis?’ Awareness is everything. I want no parent to be exposed in this way.
“That’s why I wholeheartedly support this sepsis assessment tool. It empowers people – parents, carers, partners, loved ones – to take action and confidently ask ‘Could this be sepsis?’. It could, potentially, save thousands of lives.”
Dr Ron Daniels BEM, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of the UK Sepsis Trust, said: “For the first time globally, we are empowering members of the public with health professional-developed questions in an accessible format, based upon agreed guidance from multiple agencies including the medical Royal Colleges and the former Public Health England. Using this accepted guidance, people of all ages will be safeguarded and their loved ones able to signpost them to access healthcare in the best possible way.”
Dr Amina Hersi, Doctor and Clinical Editor at HealthHero, said: “I don’t just believe in this tool professionally; I believe in it personally. In 2023, I lost my mother to sepsis. Her assessment was completed incorrectly, and that mistake had devastating consequences. That kind of helplessness never leaves you, and I would never wish such pain on anyone. This tool is deeply personal to me because it gives people the power to act early. Much like Martha’s Rule, it gives people a voice. Even when you don’t have a medical background or equipment like pulse or oxygen monitors, this tool is there in your pocket, on your phone. It enables families to check their concerns quickly, at any time.
“With sepsis, every single minute counts. This tool has the potential to save lives. By putting clear health education directly into people’s hands, we’re helping them act faster and that can be the difference between life and death. That’s why at HealthHero, we’re so passionate about creating tools people can trust. Tools that allow everyone to take charge of their own health – simply and confidently.”
HealthHero is a leading digital health provider in Europe, delivering smart solutions to patients. HealthHero services cover 30 million lives and a network of over 4,000 clinicians. We connect smart technology and gold-standard clinical expertise to make high quality healthcare accessible to millions.
HealthHero’s aim is to deliver smarter ways to meet whole health needs. HealthHero reimagines how healthcare is delivered across the “whole health” spectrum – a wide range of needs and conditions and everyday situations – for both mind and body.
Our ambition to transform healthcare is represented in our mission: Simplifying healthcare, improving lives.
