A new sepsis lead has been appointed at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust as part of a drive to improve care for patients with the life-threatening condition.

Dr Ruchi Joshi, Clinical Director for Emergency Medicine, has been appointed to the role and will oversee a new, multidisciplinary sepsis team. Together, they will work to improve awareness of sepsis across the trust and introduce a training programme that will see staff trained in identifying and managing sepsis.

They also plan to establish a sepsis passport scheme for staff which will see clinical teams undergoing training to develop skills and competencies appropriate to their roles.

Every 3 seconds, someone in the world dies of sepsis. In the UK alone, 245,000 people are affected by sepsis with at least 48,000 people losing their lives in sepsis-related illness’ every year. Yet, for many patients, with early diagnosis it is easily treatable.

Dr Joshi said: “I lost my mother to sepsis, so carrying out this role is really a tribute to her, and something I’ve been interested in helping with for a long time.

“No one should die of sepsis. It is an easily identifiable, manageable condition. By improving our ability to identify and manage septic patients, we can help to ensure that they don’t come to harm and that they get the safe, high quality care they deserve.”

Dr Joshi started in the role on 1 September and will be carrying out the role alongside her existing role as Clinical Director for Emergency Medicine.

Dr Joshi added: “I’m looking forward to working hard with colleagues across the trust to achieve our shared vision of delivering the best possible care we can in order to avoid and treat sepsis.”

Patients and family members who have experience of receiving sepsis care at Walsall Healthcare are encouraged to share any feedback by emailing sepsisteam@walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk