National Sepsis Improvement Programme launched by Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand has confirmed the development of a nationwide sepsis improvement programme, marking a significant step forward in improving how sepsis is recognised and managed across Aotearoa (publicly announced in this full-length feature on sepsis in The Listener magazine 9 Nov, 2026).

This is something for which The New Zealand Sepsis Trust has been advocating over several years: for sepsis to be recognised as a national health priority, with a coordinated approach to improving care and outcomes for sepsis patients. This has been a direct result of our meeting, and support from, Health Minister Simeon Brown at the end of December 2025, amid ongoing advocacy efforts.

It is a significant milestone, and one that reflects the collective efforts of clinicians, families, survivors, advocates and health sector champions who have continued to push for change.

What does this mean?

The new national programme aims to:

• Strengthen early recognition and timely treatment of sepsis.

• Support consistent implementation of evidence-based sepsis pathways across hospitals.

• Improve training and education for frontline healthcare professionals.

• Strengthen data collection, measurement and reporting.

• Reduce variation in care and improve outcomes for patients and whānau.

Sepsis Trust NZ at the table

We are particularly pleased that Sepsis Trust NZ will have a role in helping shape what happens next.Our CEO, Ally Hossain, and Dr Paul Huggan, Chair of our Clinical & Scientific Committee and Trust co-founder, have been appointed to the National Sepsis Governance Committee overseeing this work.

This gives us an important opportunity to ensure that the experiences of patients, survivors and whānau remain part of the conversation as the programme moves into implementation.

We are proud of what has been achieved, but we know there is still much to do. Our goal remains the same: to save lives and reduce harm from sepsis in Aotearoa New Zealand.