Shropshire hospitals appoint first sepsis nurse
The trust that runs Shropshire’s two main hospitals has appointed its first sepsis nurse.
Concerns around sepsis were raised by the Care Quality Commission, which inspected Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) last year.
The trust says it has streamlined its work to help in the fight against sepsis, but the new sepsis nurse will help with this further.
Angela Windsor has taken on the role following her work at the trust as a resuscitation officer.
She will focus on the screening and treatment of sepsis patients as well as providing education and training to staff.
Angela said: “I am incredibly excited to be undertaking the role of sepsis nurse practitioner. I am passionate about ensuring the best possible care for our most vulnerable patients and I am also privileged to work with so many staff who share my passion and are equally dedicated.
“I believe that we can bring about demonstrable improvements in the quality of care for patients with sepsis and improve patient outcomes by making small changes.
Complication
“There is excellent work that has already begun within the trust and in departments to further enhance sepsis care provision and I hope to be able to work alongside all of the teams to build on this and ensure that these improvements are sustained and stand the test of time.”
Sepsis is a serious complication of an infection.
It is sometimes referred to as blood poisoning, but this is in fact an effect of sepsis.
Normally our immune system fights infection – but sometimes for reasons we don’t yet fully understand, it attacks our body’s own organs and tissues and can lead to organ failure and death.
Across SaTH, sepsis is detected and treated in a number of ways.
Its admission areas are equipped with sepsis trolleys which allow clinicians to immediately deliver the necessary care for a patient with suspected sepsis.
Sepsis boxes have been introduced in other areas of the hospital that can quickly be grabbed, and plans are being finalised to roll out a Sepsis PGD (Patient Group Directive), which will allow senior nurses to quickly initiate the drugs and fluids required to treat sepsis within a one hour time frame.
SaTH also has a growing team of sepsis champions from wards and departments at Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital who meet on a monthly basis to learn about the ongoing improvements around sepsis and share this learning with their teams.
