About UKST

The UK Sepsis Trust was founded in 2012 by NHS consultant Dr Ron Daniels BEM. Known for his expertise in systems and translational medicine, Dr Daniels spent the previous seven years developing and disseminating the Sepsis 6 pathway across the NHS and internationally.

Our goal is to end preventable deaths from sepsis and improve outcomes for sepsis survivors. We believe that earlier diagnosis and treatment across the UK could save several thousand lives each year.

Our expertise is rooted in our grassroots origins: our doctors and nurses have frontline experience with sepsis, and their passion is driven by a uniquely comprehensive understanding of what needs to be done.

doctors-pushing-emergency-stretcher-bed-corridor

Our vision

To end preventable deaths from sepsis.

Our mission & what we do

We aim to strive to save lives from sepsis and improve outcomes for survivors by:

Educating healthcare professionals
Raising public awareness levels
Providing support for those affected by this devastating condition
Instigating political change

Our impact

With the help of our supporters, we have achieved significant milestones since our foundation in 2012:

Increased survival rates: Survival rates from sepsis in the UK have risen from 70% in 2012 to 80% in 2019. Every year, we support thousands of people in their recovery or through bereavement.
Public awareness: Our ‘Just Ask: Could it be Sepsis?’ campaign has gained widespread support and media coverage. Public awareness that sepsis is a medical emergency increased from 27% in 2012 to 76% in 2019 and is now at 91% in 2024 (YouGov polls).
Sepsis guidelines: In 2016, the National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) partnered with UKST to release guidelines to improve sepsis care across the NHS. These were updated on the 31st January 2024, and our clinical tools reflect the latest revisions to NG51.
Sepsis 6: We developed the Sepsis 6 as a practical tool to help healthcare professionals deliver rapid and reliable care. It has been endorsed by NICE and is used in 96% of British hospitals and in 37 other countries worldwide.
Global impact: In 2017, the World Health Organization adopted a resolution on sepsis to improve care globally, helping to reduce the annual death toll of six million people worldwide.

You can read all about our latest activities in our annual report, viewable here.

Partnerships

UKST collaborates with a diverse range of organisations, from healthcare institutions and schools to major businesses, to raise awareness of sepsis. Our partners include esteemed companies such as AVIVA, Bridgepoint, Iceland Foods, JPMorgan, Mott McDonald, Laing O’Rourke, Proskauer, PwC, and more. As part of our partnership programme, we deliver free ‘Sepsis Savvy’ awareness talks to educate and empower communities about the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. We work together to save lives.

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Our campaigns

We lead several impactful campaigns to combat sepsis. Our award-winning ‘Just Ask: Could it be Sepsis?’ campaign has significantly raised public awareness and prompted critical conversations around early diagnosis. Our Sepsis Savvy programme extends this outreach to schools, universities, the farming community, and general businesses, providing tailored education on sepsis prevention and recognition. Additionally, our ‘Sepsis Voices’ campaign collects and shares diverse sepsis experiences, highlighting the personal stories behind this often deadly condition, emphasising the widespread impact of sepsis. Learn more about the life-saving work we do and how you can get involved.

Find out more