EARLIER this year Ludlow GP Dr Catherine Beanland provided an insight into sepsis.

This is a condition that seems to be causing increasing concern. It carries the double whammy of potentially progressing very quickly and also being difficult to diagnose.

Dr Beanland was involved in a campaign in support of a young doctor who paid a very high price for failing to recognise sepsis as it resulted in the death of a child. Doctors and nurses and other medical professionals are highly trained, highly skilled and for the most part highly dedicated people.

However, diagnosis and treatment are often not easy and yes because humans are involved mistakes do get made.

People who make mistakes due to gross carelessness or negligence are one thing, but this is surely not generally what happens. When something goes wrong it is usually the culmination of a series of things coming together.

Different sectors have different approaches to safety and how they respond to mistakes. Aviation is incredibly safe, and this is no accident.

It is a sector that recognises that when mistakes are made a culture of learning is more important than a culture of blame.

In aviation, as in medicine and many other activities, people working in teams are key.

Many years ago, one particular airline suffered a significant number of incidents and investigations show that this particular carrier had a propensity to recruit its pilots from the military.

Whilst these pilots often had great skill and experience a consequence was a very hierarchical culture.

This resulted in first officers and other crew often being reluctant to challenge a captain even in circumstances where they could see something was going wrong.

Now airlines put great score by Crew Resource Management. This puts a lot of emphasis upon working together and encouraging more junior crew, including cabin crew, to feel comfortable taking up any concerns even with a senior captain.

Most problems arise through some form of human error but rather than just blame the individual it is important to understand the underlying cause.

If people are overworked they are more likely to make a mistake or if they are tired or do not have proper check lists. Worries that may or may not be connected with work can be a factor as can low morale.

Despite all the care, things can still go wrong. But for the most part, many sectors, including medicine, would do well to follow the aviation model.