General Practice and Management of Sepsis

This section contains a clinical toolkit that has been developed in partnership with the Royal College of General Practitioners. It is designed to provide operational solutions to the complexities challenging the reliable identification and management of sepsis in the primary care setting, and complements clinical toolkits designed for other clinical areas.

The toolkit aims to make GPs and other primary care clinicians familiar with the significant morbidity and mortality associated with severe sepsis and to structure their knowledge and skills so that they can recognise the condition earlier. It advises on specific safety netting in patients presenting with signs and symptoms of infection and addresses the need to work collaboratively with health professionals in other clinical areas to ensure that appropriate further assessment is undertaken and time-critical care is delivered rapidly when necessary.

This toolkit is compatible with international guidelines on sepsis management, with the Department of Health’s document ‘Start Smart- then Focus’, and with guidance on infection management in primary care issued by the Health Protection Agency.

Click here to view the toolkit in detail.

References and further information
Spotting the Sick Child

Spotting the Sick Child is an interactive tool commissioned by the Department of Health and Health Education England to support health professionals in the assessment of the acutely sick child. You can register for guidance and training to improve your understanding, as children need a different approach from adults and many health professionals are anxious about assessing children.