A Portsmouth woman experienced a nine-hour wait for sepsis treatment at Queen Alexandra Hospital (QA) in August, raising concerns about potential delays in critical care. Lorraine, who recently underwent an operation to remove a kidney stone at the hospital, alleges a critically important gap between arrival at the A&E department and confirmation of her diagnosis.
The case highlights potential issues within the hospital’s emergency response system and underscores the critical importance of rapid sepsis identification. Sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to an infection, requires immediate treatment with antibiotics and fluids to prevent organ failure and death. Lorraine’s experience, confirmed by a GP’s sick note, raises questions about the timeliness of observations and diagnosis for patients presenting with suspected sepsis at QA Hospital.
Lorraine first became unwell at home during the night, experiencing severe vomiting. Initially hesitant to seek hospital attention, she attempted to rest, but after vomiting six times consecutively, her daughter, Kelly, contacted the NHS 111 service. An ambulance arrived approximately eight minutes later, with the paramedic suspecting sepsis.
Upon arrival at QA Hospital around 16:00 BST, paramedics reportedly informed hospital staff of their suspicion. However, Lorraine claims no vital signs - including temperature and heart rate - were recorded until 20:30, four and a half hours later. During this period, she was left on a trolley in the corridor.
“I was in so much pain, and nobody asked me how I was,” Lorraine stated. “And I felt so ill that I just wasn’t communicating.” She added that observations were only taken after her daughter alerted staff to the unusual color of her urine, which she described as being “the color of cola.”
It wasn’t until 23:00, seven hours after her arrival, that a staff member confirmed a sepsis diagnosis. BBC South has reviewed a sick note from Lorraine’s GP corroborating the diagnosis. The hospital has not yet commented on the specific details of Lorraine’s case.
