Guidelines on sepsis to be implemented following Savita death

A number of new guidelines on sepsis and handovers between medical staff are being implemented at hospitals following the death of Savita Halappanavar.

Ms Halappanavar, who was 17 weeks pregnant, died at University College Hospital Galway of sepsis last October following a miscarriage.

A HIQA report found her death could have been prevented on 13 separate occasions.

It made 34 recommendations - among them, the implementation of a Sepsis Management guideline and a Clinical Handover guideline.

"I think we have to learn from lessons such as this make sure that we implement those lessons, monitor that they are being implemented," said chair of the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee Professor Hillary Humphries.

"And hopefully confirm that the outcome for patients is better than it was before these tragic events occurred."