Failure to provide timely antibiotic treatment for suspected or confirmed infection
First to latest report 8 Oct 2013 — 7 Feb 2026
Reports that mention this concern
15
Times this concern has been raised
15
Stated actions linked to this concern
13
What this concern includes
Includes failures to recognise the need for, initiate, provide or maintain clinically indicated antibiotic treatment for suspected or confirmed infection, including delayed commencement, omitted treatment, avoidable gaps and failure to provide alternative treatment when antibiotics are withheld.
What is not included
Excludes antibiotic prophylaxis where the concern is prevention of infection rather than treatment of suspected or confirmed infection.
Excludes failures limited to sepsis recognition, diagnostic investigation or escalation when antibiotic treatment provision is not itself deficient.
Excludes antimicrobial prescribing or selection concerns where treatment was provided promptly and the issue is only clinical appropriateness.
Excludes generic medication supply, staffing, communication or documentation deficiencies unless they directly cause delayed, omitted or interrupted antibiotic treatment.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Care Quality Commission3
Department of Health and Social Care2
Cardiff & Vale University LHB1
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Local Health Board1
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1
East Cheshire NHS Trust1
General Medical Council1
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board1
NHS England1
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust1
Nursing and Midwifery Council1
Public Health England1
Royal Cornwall Hospital1
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust1
NHS trust8
Healthcare site6
Health and social care service regulator3
Local health board2
Ministerial department2
Executive agency1
Executive non-departmental public body1
Health and care professional regulator1
Integrated care board1
Reports and published responses 15 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
Blackpool and the Fylde
Concerns raised1
Failure to provide timely intravenous fluids and antibiotics to ambulance-held patients with suspected infection
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Care Quality Commission
Department of Health and Social Care
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Department of Health and Social Care
The Care Quality Commission will provide a separate response to the concerns.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Care Quality Commission
The internal review found no evidence that CQC advised the trust not to treat patients remaining on ambulances.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Care Quality Commission
Providing operational clinical advice about where or how specific patients should be treated falls outside CQC’s remit.
Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised1
Failure to trigger sepsis six and provide required antibiotics when indicated
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.7
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Share the patient’s story with AMU staff, focusing on neutropenic sepsis, hypothermia and the sepsis six bundle.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Convene an AMU educational awayday focused on sepsis and the deteriorating patient.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Increase compliance with sepsis training to 80% within four months and 90% within six months, excluding staff on leave.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Maintain mandatory sepsis training for nurses and healthcare assistants as statutory and essential training.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Provide sepsis update lunchtime training sessions for doctors.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Apply the sepsis screening tool to all blood pressure machines.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Develop a sepsis alert within the new e-Care system to digitally flag when the sepsis six should be actioned.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Failure to put alternative treatments in place when antibiotics are withheld
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Department of Health and Social Care
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Use microbiology management-plan stickers in patient notes when clinicians are unavailable during microbiology review.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Department of Health and Social Care
The hospital is responsible for considering the operational concerns and reporting the actions and improvements it will take.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Essex
Concerns raised1
Delays in commencing antibiotics for infected haematoma
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Norfolk
Concerns raised1
Delays in administering prescribed antibiotics
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King'S Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King'S Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust
Develop and deliver an SBAR handover training programme for all neonatal intensive care nursing and medical staff.
the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King'S Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust
Debrief staff involved in the delayed antibiotic communication.
Inner South London
Concerns raised1
Failure to initiate antibiotic treatment promptly for suspected fatal infection
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
Re-audit sepsis performance against Sepsis 6 standards and address identified practice gaps through governance monitoring.
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
Remind clinical staff to administer prescribed critical medications within one hour and reinforce this through ward and team meetings.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
The Trust states antibiotics were administered within an hour, disputing that Amikacin administration timing was unconfirmed or late.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised1
Delays in the administration of antibiotics
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Cumbria
Concerns raised1
Delays in initiating prescribed intravenous fluids and antibiotic treatment
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
South Wales Central
Concerns raised1
Failure to provide timely and appropriate antibiotics
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Local Health Board
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Local Health Board
Provide ongoing Sepsis training on the Sepsis 6 bundle and NEWS documentation, escalation and implementation to medical and nursing staff.
South Wales Central
Concerns raised1
Failure to consider alternative antibiotic administration routes when cannulation is unsuitable
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.