Communiqué 3: National Sepsis Program Oversight Group – May 2024

National Sepsis Oversight Group

The Oversight Group is chaired by Conjoint Associate Professor Carolyn Hullick, Chief Medical Officer at the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (Commission). The Oversight Group met for the third time on 22 May 2024. 

Members noted that procurement of a national targeted public awareness campaign is underway and discussed: 

• The importance of maintaining interconnections between the five projects to ensure project implementation is effective and the value of lived experience expertise.
• The work underway within states and territories to improve sepsis recognition and response following the first meeting of the Commonwealth, State and Territory Liaison Group. Members noted the synergies with the national program, and a strong focus on the implementation of the Sepsis Clinical Care Standard. Members also noted the different levels of maturity of sepsis programs across Australia and supported the Commission’s focus on achieving a national view.
• The similarities and differences between post cancer and post sepsis models of care. Members:
  • agreed that leadership and coordination are integral components of survivorship models
  • considered how roles and responsibilities within the health system might be better defined, embedded, and resourced to provide sepsis survivors and their families with information, services, supports and referrals relevant to their needs.
  • noted several barriers to effective post sepsis supports including:
    • lack of awareness about post sepsis syndrome in primary care
    • access to referrals, particularly allied health (exacerbated in regional settings)
    • challenging administrative systems, such as specialist referrals.

Next steps

The Oversight Group requested further information about data linkage and to hear directly from health services developing post sepsis services. 

Enquiries

If you would like to be added to the distribution list for this Communiqué, please email your details to sepsis@safetyandquality.gov.au