Hospital delays: people with symptoms of meningitis must be treated early to save lives

• Winter is peak season for meningitis and septicaemia
• Leading meningitis charity reminds families and health professionals to be vigilant and act quickly when meningitis is suspected, to prevent death or disability

In light of recent concerns on capacity at hospital A&E departments, Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) is reminding families and health professionals of the need to be vigilant and act quickly if meningitis is suspected.

It comes after news reports suggest that parents with children presenting with symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia have been left waiting for hours in hospital with little information due to over-stretched staff.

There is clear guidance for doctors that urges early recognition and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia. Without early detection and treatment, research shows that children can get rapidly worse and die within hours.

Vinny Smith, Chief Executive of MRF said, “Meningitis and septicaemia are deadly diseases that can strike without warning and can kill very quickly. With winter being peak season for the disease, we’re concerned that any extra pressure on the NHS might mean that patients either don’t get seen quickly enough, or that they are kept in for monitoring but not checked often enough.”

Diagnosis and treatment resources for health professionals in the hospital setting