Sepsis compensation claims

Sepsis, sometimes called blood poisoning, is a serious and life-threatening condition that occurs when the body overreacts to an infection and begins to damage its own tissues and organs. The initial infection can be bacterial, viral, or fungal – and can start as something relatively mild, such as a chest infection or urinary tract infection. Sepsis can progress through three stages – sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock – and if not treated quickly, it can lead to organ failure and can be fatal.

The biggest concern is that sepsis is diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible. It causes damage to tissues and organs that can lead to shock, multiple organ failure, and sometimes death. There are also serious longer-term complications, including kidney failure, gangrene requiring amputation, permanent lung damage from acute respiratory distress syndrome, and brain damage leading to memory problems or more severe symptoms. After surviving sepsis, some people also go on to experience post-sepsis syndrome, which can involve fatigue, muscle weakness, joint pain, depression, and anxiety.

Sepsis needs diagnosing and treating quickly. The UK Sepsis Trust developed the ‘Sepsis Six’ – a series of six clinical tasks, including administering oxygen, taking cultures, giving antibiotics, giving fluids, measuring lactate, and monitoring urine output – all to be carried out within one hour of a patient arriving at hospital. A failure to follow this kind of protocol promptly can be a significant factor in a sepsis negligence claim.

In most cases, you have three years from the date of the negligent treatment, or from the date you first became aware that negligence may have been involved, to start a sepsis compensation claim. There are exceptions – for example, if the person affected is a child, the three-year period does not begin until they turn 18. If the person lacks mental capacity, different rules may apply. We recommend seeking legal advice as soon as possible, as gathering evidence and building a case takes time.

Your solicitor will gather the evidence needed to support your claim on your behalf. This typically includes your medical records, test results, and clinical notes from the time of your treatment. We will instruct independent medical experts to review what happened and give their opinion on whether the care you received fell below the standard that should have been provided. You do not need to gather this evidence yourself – we will manage the process for you.

Yes. If a family member died as a result of sepsis that was not diagnosed or treated appropriately, you may be able to bring a claim on their behalf. This is known as a wrongful death claim. We understand how painful this situation is, and we will handle your case with the sensitivity and care it deserves. We will help you understand whether you have grounds for a claim and guide you through the process as gently as possible.

In the UK, around 245,000 people are affected by sepsis each year, and at least 48,000 people lose their lives to sepsis-related illness annually – more than breast, bowel, and prostate cancer combined. Globally, sepsis claims around 11 million lives each year. These figures highlight why early diagnosis and prompt treatment are so critical – and why failures in care can have such serious consequences.

Anyone can get sepsis but those particularly at risk are: 

• Infants and older adults. 
• People over 75 years old. 
• People with diabetes, weakened immune systems, or genetic disorders that affect the immune system. 
• Individuals who have recently had a serious illness or undergone surgery. 
• Women who have recently had a baby, miscarriage, or abortion. 

Other people potentially at risk include: 

• Very frail individuals. 
• People who misuse intravenous drugs or alcohol. 
• Individuals with indwelling lines or catheters. 
• People with cuts, burns, or operative wounds. 
• Pregnant women or those postpartum, especially after a Caesarean section or forceps delivery.

From the moment you contact us, we’ll take the time to listen and understand your situation before advising on next steps. We handle every part of the legal process on your behalf, keeping you informed at every stage in plain, straightforward language. Where possible, we will seek to secure interim payments to help with immediate costs while your claim is ongoing. Our focus is on making the process as clear and manageable as possible, so you can concentrate on your recovery.

It is important to seek legal advice as soon as you can because there are time limits to filing a sepsis negligence claim. 

These are typically within three years of the incident that caused the condition or from when the potential malpractice or negligence was discovered . 

There are some exceptions, for example if a case involves a child or a person who lacks mental capacity.