16 September, 2025
Pictured: Adelina Baciu, Clinical Nurse Manager with the Sepsis Response Trolley
A ground breaking innovation in emergency care is transforming how clinicians respond to suspected sepsis cases here at St James’s Hospital. The newly developed Sepsis Response Trolley is significantly improving treatment times and patient outcomes, thanks to a frontline-led initiative born out of clinical necessity.
The idea originated during the planning of the hospital’s first Sepsis Symposium, where an internal audit revealed a critical delay in sepsis response: clinicians were losing valuable time searching for supplies across wards during the “golden hour.” In response, the team initially developed a compact sepsis response box but thought that a more comprehensive solution was needed.
Clinical Nurse Manager, Adelina Baciu, explains; “We couldn’t fit all the necessary supplies for the Sepsis 6 bundle into a small box. So, we designed a dedicated trolley that could carry everything required for rapid intervention.”
Designed for speed and efficiency, the trolley features six organised drawers, each tailored to a specific aspect of sepsis care:
Cultures: Blood, urine, wound, drain and viral swabs
Bloods and Lactate: Blood collection and blood gas analysis
IV Access: Cannulation supplies for fluids and antibiotics
IV Fluids: Ready-to-use intravenous fluids
Oxygen: Equipment for oxygen administration
Catheterisation: Supplies for urinary catheter insertion
While antimicrobials are not stored due to their variety, the trolley is securely locked and accessible via the Misuse of Drugs Act key, as these are controlled medications.
Since its implementation, the trolley has led to a notable reduction in time between symptom onset and treatment initiation. Clinicians report fewer cases of severe deterioration and a decrease in ICU admissions, marking a significant improvement in patient outcomes.
Feedback from clinical staff has been overwhelmingly positive. The hospital currently has one trolley in use and it has been described as time-saving and highly effective, though currently only one unit is in use due to limited funding. Other wards continue to use the original response boxes, but a post-implementation audit revealed strong support for expanding the trolley initiative hospital-wide.
The success of the trolley underscores the importance of empowering healthcare professionals to innovate within their clinical environments. This initiative serves as a powerful example of how frontline insights can lead to meaningful change, improving care delivery and saving lives.