Communiqué 6: National Sepsis Program Oversight Group – November 2024

National Sepsis Program 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 (the Commission). 

World Sepsis Day (WSD) is on 13 September. In 2024, to coincide with WSD a national public awareness campaign delivered key sepsis messages. Members received an overview of campaign activities and results. They heard: 

• the susceptibility to sepsis tongue twister challenge featured in regional national and international news through 889 earned and social placements 
• significant traffic to the Sepsis Australia website has raised visibility and public engagement 
• the campaign was amplified through collaboration. Every state and territory health service, Sepsis Australia, the Australian Government and the Commission amplified the campaign 
• Heathdirect also participated with updated sepsis information and clinicians on hand to give people information about sepsis or direct them to appropriate health services 
• the sepsis tongue twister challenge could become synonymous with World Sepsis Day. 

Members considered the results from a consumer survey about how primary health professionals can assist their sepsis recovery. Key themes focused on recognition of and response to post sepsis syndrome. Recommendations included education, consumer resources, stronger links to allied health, active recovery management, post sepsis treatment plans and regular check-up appointments. Consumers also asked for more empathy. 

Members also heard that a sepsis education bundle for primary care will focus on three sepsis case studies (paediatric, maternal and post sepsis syndrome) with downloadable tools/resources to support sepsis recognition and response. Members: 

• advised the Commission to consider sepsis recognition in the context of telehealth, the needs of patients from non-English speaking backgrounds and the inclusion of safety netting language 
• noted that although it may not be feasible to include all desirable elements into a one-hour module, the Commission will capture gaps and future needs as part of program reporting. 

Professor Bala Venkatesh provided an overview of discussions underway in Queensland to strengthen sepsis teaching in undergraduate curricula. Members noted: 

• several Queensland universities are exploring a common sepsis curriculum for medical schools 
• opportunities to strengthen undergraduate and prevocational teaching, including lived experience partnerships; spiralling curriculum across curricula; future consideration of allied health curricula and content preparing students for sepsis in rural and remote areas. 

Next steps 

The Oversight Group will continue to monitor the progress of projects and provide feedback to the Commission and contracted suppliers to strengthen implementation and outcomes. 

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