Norfolk's largest hospital is launching new emergency kits for patients with suspected sepsis as part of an annual awareness day.

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (N&N) now provides new sepsis emergency kit bags.

It was launched on Tuesday as part of a patient safety initiative, coinciding with World Sepsis Day.

Sepsis, also referred to as blood poisoning or septicaemia, is a potentially life-threatening condition triggered by an infection or injury and kills 44,000 people each year.

The bags will enable the hospital's medical teams to carry out six simple tasks that help treat the infection causing sepsis effectively.

Michael Irvine, consultant in intensive care medicine at the N&N, said: 'Sepsis is more difficult to identify than conditions like heart attacks and strokes.

'Timely treatment is critical when treating patients for sepsis as survival rates are improved significantly if antibiotics can be administered within 60 minutes of diagnosis.

'Patients are also less likely to have serious health complications if we provide prompt treatment.

'We are taking an innovative approach and providing emergency kit bags for wards which contain the key equipment needed to treat Sepsis fast.

'Suspected cases will be reported with the same hospital emergency system as that used for a cardiac arrest.'

The new approach is being audited to look for further improvements in patient safety and share learning across the trust and within the NHS.

It is part of a national focus on Sepsis which aims to make the public more aware of the symptoms and improve the care available in hospitals.

For more information visit the UK Sepsis Trust at http://sepsistrust.org/