• Reference Number: HEY-1310/2022
• Departments: Infection Prevention and Control
• Last Updated: 1 October 2022

Introduction

This advice sheet has been produced to give you information about the Sepsis telephone clinic.

It is not meant to replace discussion between you and your doctor.  If after reading it, you require further explanation please discuss this with the relevant person who has been caring for you.

Why have you received this appointment?

You have received this appointment because you have been treated for an infection and/or sepsis during a recent hospital admission.

What is Sepsis?

Sepsis is a term used to describe a severe infection. You may or may not have been told that you had sepsis in hospital.

A severe infection (sepsis) can be found to be anywhere in the body, such as the blood (septicaemia), urine or kidneys (UTI), lungs (pneumonia), soft tissue and skin (cellulitis), the heart (endocarditis)…the list could continue as people can have an infection anywhere, and that infection could be caused by different bacteria, different viruses, or fungus or parasites.

Sepsis is therefore a very broad term to describe what can be a very serious condition.

What is the Sepsis telephone clinic?

The Sepsis Team at Hull University Teaching Hospitals would like to give you a call to assess how you are managing with your recovery. We know it can take some time to recover from such a severe infection, and we know that some people can be left with ongoing problems. These problems can be varied and different for each person, and that is why ongoing symptoms are sometimes called ‘post-sepsis syndrome’.

During your appointment, we aim to listen to you about your hospital experience and assess any health problems you might be experiencing currently. We can give advice, signpost you to other suitable services, or offer self-help guides to aid your recovery, or help you learn to live with any lasting effects of sepsis.

Your appointment

Your appointment will last no longer than 20 minutes, however, if you would like a further follow up call, this can be arranged at the end of your appointment.

If you would prefer for us not to call you, please cancel your appointment by calling (01482) 461072.

Signs and Symptoms of Sepsis:

When you have had a severe infection, sometimes, you may be prone to further infections as your immune system recovers. You should always seek help if you, or anyone you are with develops:

Slurred speech or confusion.
Extreme shivering or muscle pain.
Passing no urine within 12 hours.
Severe breathlessness.
It feels like you’re going to die.
Skin mottled or discoloured.

Other symptoms which could suggest sepsis include:

• VERY high temperature (fever) or low body temperature (feels very cold).
• Feeling very sleepy or about to lose consciousness.
• Severe tummy (abdominal) pain.
• Feeling very dizzy or faint or having a fit (seizure).
• A rash which does not fade with pressure.
• Not eating any food or drinking any fluid.
• Being sick (vomiting) repeatedly.

If you do have sepsis, you may also have other symptoms of infection such as a flu-like illness (cough, fever, muscle aches and joint pains) or diarrhoea and vomiting.

Early treatment saves lives. Call 999 if you are very concerned. Call your GP or 111 immediately if you’re concerned, but don’t think you need to go straight to hospital. If there is any delay in talking to a doctor then call 999. 

Further help and support:

 The UK Sepsis Trust: Support and information for sepsis survivors, including post-sepsis syndrome, returning to work and financial worries, relatives support, critical illness recovery, bereavement support, support groups, and legal advice.

Website:        sepsistrust.org

Email:             info@sepsistrust.org

Telephone:    0808 800 0029

 

Social Prescribers: You can contact your G.P practice and ask to see a Social Prescriber. Social prescribing link workers play a key role by giving people time, focusing on ‘what matters to me’ and taking a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing to connect them to appropriate community groups and services. Social prescribing works for a wide range of people, including people:

• with one or more long-term conditions
• who need support with their mental health
• who are lonely or isolated
• who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

 

Vaccinations:

We recommend that you stay up to date with vaccinations recommended for you, to prevent future infections. Your G.P. surgery will be able to advise you on this if you are unsure.

Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this advice sheet, please do not hesitate to contact the Clinic on telephone number: (01482) 461072

 

This advice sheet was produced by the Department of Infectious Diseases, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and will be reviewed in October 2025. 

Ref: HEY1310/2022

 

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about you

We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.