Pneumonia - Adults - Safety netting advice

Surrey Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs) Information

When to seek further review

Seek medical review if symptoms have not started to improve within 3 days of treatment, or sooner if they worsen.
Get urgent advice today for increasing breathlessness, fever returning or not settling, poor fluid intake or inability to take prescribed medicine.
A cough and tiredness can take several weeks to settle. Arrange GP review if recovery is not progressing, symptoms return or there is unexplained weight loss.
Keep any arranged follow-up or chest X-ray appointment.
Do not wait for the suggested review time if symptoms become worse, new symptoms appear, or you are worried.
If you need medical advice and are unsure which service can help, call NHS 111. This includes when your GP is closed or you cannot get the help you need. NHS 111 can direct you to an appropriate local service. You can call even if you are not sure whether symptoms are serious.

When to get emergency help
(Immediately dial 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department)

Severe breathing difficulty, gasping or being unable to speak normally.
Severe chest pain, collapse or new confusion.
Coughing up more than a few streaks of blood, or blood with chest pain or breathlessness.
Rapid worsening with cold clammy skin, marked weakness or very little pee.
Severe difficulty breathing, such as gasping or being unable to speak normally.
New confusion or not making sense when speaking.
Being very difficult to wake.
Collapse or loss of consciousness.
Blue, grey, unusually pale or blotchy skin or lips, especially when feeling very unwell.

How to spot sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. It can get worse quickly. If someone is seriously unwell and may have sepsis, call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department. Do not wait for every sign, a high temperature or a rash.

An unwell child under 5 who has not had a pee or wet nappy for 12 hours needs emergency assessment. If you are unsure and there are no emergency signs, call NHS 111 for advice.

Adult sepsis signs: slurred speech or confusion; extreme shivering or muscle pain; no urine in a day; severe breathlessness; feeling extremely unwell; mottled or discoloured skin. — Adults

Child sepsis signs: very fast breathing; a fit or convulsion; mottled, bluish or pale skin; a rash that does not fade under pressure; very difficult to wake; abnormally cold. Under-5 warning signs also include not feeding, repeated vomiting or no urine for 12 hours. — Children

Sources

NHS - Pneumoniahttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pneumonia/
NICE NG250 - Pneumoniahttps://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng250/chapter/Recommendations
NHS - Sepsishttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/
NHS - When to use NHS 111https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-use-111/

When to seek further review

When to get emergency help(Immediately dial 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department)

How to spot sepsis

Sources

When to get emergency help
(Immediately dial 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department)