Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to help ensure that healthcare professionals receive training on recognising sepsis in children.

The Government recognises the importance of training healthcare professionals to recognise sepsis in children. In May 2018, Health Education England launched ‘Think Sepsis’ a learning package designed to help clinicians spot the early sign of sepsis in children and infants. This is important as 70% of sepsis cases develop within primary care.

The National Health Service is working with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Nursing to develop a single England-wide paediatrics early-warning system for children which will help NHS staff to rapidly identify acutely unwell children and respond appropriately. The aim is to develop a consistent approach and common language to promptly recognise and respond to signs of acute illness which may include sepsis.