September is Sepsis Awareness Month, led by The UK Sepsis Trust, with World Sepsis Day falling on 13 September. According to The UK Sepsis Trust, sepsis contributes to around 48,000 deaths in the UK every year, roughly five people every hour, yet many of these deaths are preventable if the condition is recognised and treated quickly. For families and care teams supporting people with complex or long-term health needs, understanding sepsis is not just useful background knowledge. It can be lifesaving.
What sepsis actually is
Sepsis is the body’s extreme and sometimes life-threatening response to an infection. Rather than fighting the infection alone, the immune system overreacts and begins to damage the body’s own tissues and organs. It can develop from something as ordinary as a chest infection, a urinary tract infection, or an infected wound, and it can progress within hours. This is why quick recognition matters so much.
Why people with complex needs face a higher risk
- Indwelling devices such as catheters, PEG or gastrostomy tubes, and tracheostomies create additional routes for infection to enter the body
- Reduced mobility and pressure areas can lead to skin infections that go unnoticed for longer
- Long-term conditions and weakened immune systems make it harder for the body to fight infection off before it escalates
- Communication difficulties can mean early symptoms, like confusion or a change in usual behaviour, are harder to describe or spot
Know the signs: TIME
The UK Sepsis Trust recommends the acronym TIME to help carers and families recognise the warning signs early:
- Temperature – unusually high or low
- Infection – signs of an existing infection getting worse
- Mental decline – increased confusion, drowsiness, or difficulty waking someone
- Extremely ill – severe pain, breathlessness, a fast heartbeat, or cold, clammy or mottled skin
What to do if you suspect sepsis
If someone shows any combination of these signs, particularly alongside a known or suspected infection, seek medical help urgently. Call 999 or NHS 111, and say clearly: “Could this be sepsis?” Naming it helps healthcare professionals prioritise the right tests and treatment quickly. This message sits at the heart of NHS England’s new Modern Service Framework for Sepsis, published in July 2026, which sets out a ten-year ambition to reduce sepsis deaths and long-term complications by at least a quarter by 2035.
How we can help
At Synergy Complex Care, our care teams support adults and children with complex health needs, many of whom live with exactly the kinds of risk factors that make sepsis more likely. Our staff are trained to recognise subtle changes in a person’s usual presentation, whether that is a new low-grade temperature, increased tiredness, or a shift in mood or alertness, and to escalate concerns promptly to district nurses, GPs, or emergency services. We also work closely with families to make sure everyone involved in someone’s care knows what to watch for and feels confident acting on it.
If you would like to talk to us about how our complex care support can help keep a loved one safe at home, we would love to hear from you.