Sepsis can occur in anyone, at any time, from any infection, and it leaves a lasting impact on survivors and families. Yet until recently, Australia lacked a clear national picture of just how widespread and devastating sepsis truly is.
In 2017, Stopping Sepsis: A National Action Plan called for the development of a National Minimum Data Set to address inconsistencies in documentation and coding. The release of the National Sepsis Data Plan – Strategic Analysis Report, a five‑year roadmap designed to transform how sepsis is measured, tracked, and responded to across the country, represents the final deliverable of the National Sepsis Program Extension.
This Data Plan follows the Sepsis Epidemiology Report, prepared by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care in collaboration with Sepsis Australia. That report demonstrated that sepsis is far more common than previously understood. Between 2013–14 and 2022–23, there were over 936,000 hospitalisations linked to sepsis, with 84,000 cases in 2022–23 alone — a sharp increase from earlier estimates of 55,000 per year.
This evidence underscores the urgent need for consistent national data. Without it, clinicians struggle to benchmark care, policymakers lack the evidence required to fund solutions, and consumers remain unaware of the risks and outcomes associated with sepsis.
For Clinicians, the Plan Provides:
- Reliable data to guide earlier diagnosis and treatment
- Benchmarking tools to compare outcomes across hospitals and states
- Evidence to support funding and workforce planning, ensuring resources are directed where most needed
- A foundation for quality improvement, enabling safer and more effective care
For Consumers, the Plan Ensures:
- Transparency about the true burden of sepsis
- Safer care through earlier recognition and intervention
- Accountability, with hospitals held to consistent national standards
- Inclusion of lived experience, ensuring survivor and bereaved voices shape the way sepsis is tracked and addressed
Delivering on the Plan Requires:
- Cooperation and commitment across states and territories
- Sponsorship and funding to drive change
- Inclusion of lived experience – embedding survivor and family perspectives in data design
A Call to Action
The National Sepsis Data Plan is more than a technical document; it is a call to action. For clinicians, it provides the evidence base to strengthen practice. For consumers, it offers reassurance that their voices and experiences matter. For both, it represents an opportunity to work together toward a future where sepsis is recognised, measured, and addressed as a true national health priority.