We all know children cannot always express how they are feeling; even more so when they are unwell and simply don't have the words to explain it. Added to this, children can often compensate well during a disease process like sepsis, meaning subtle changes can be missed until they suddenly decompensate and become extremely unwell. 

Clinical measures such as heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure might look fairly normal for a while. In this context, parental concerns come to the fore. The new Paediatric Early Warning System puts greater weight on parental concerns. Under this new standardised system, if a parent or carer raises a concern that their child is getting ill or sicker than the score shows, this should immediately escalate the child’s care regardless of other clinical observations.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Nursing have been developing this for the last three years. Also, organisations such as the UK Sepsis Trust have included this in their clinical guidance for some time. The Health Minister, Maria Caulfield, has said the new system would save lives and, in my experience, I absolutely agree. 

This month alone I have spoken with two families whose children died from sepsis, even after the parents said time and time again how worried they were about the child. Opportunities to treat an infection and save children's lives are missed when the parents are not listened to. I very much hope this new system changes that.