The Chief Executive of The UK Sepsis Trust has been recommended to His Majesty, The King for the honour of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Birthday 2026 Honours List.

The OBE awarded to Sarah Hamilton-Fairley, who joined The UK Sepsis Trust (UKST) in 2015, acknowledges and celebrates her services to sepsis awareness. The announcement is made in the full Birthday 2026 Honours List, published today in the London Gazette. UKST was founded in 2012 by NHS consultant Dr Ron Daniels BEM, who leads its work with Sarah to end preventable deaths and improve outcomes for sepsis survivors, striving to raise public awareness and working to support anyone affected by this devastating condition.

Sarah has dedicated more than two decades to improving lives through the charity sector. After founding the digital information charity StartHere in 1998, she went on to become Joint Chief Executive of UKST in 2015 (where she is now CEO), helping to transform a young organisation into the UK’s leading sepsis charity. Over the past decade, UKST has combined public awareness, clinical improvement, support for survivors and policy advocacy to drive significant progress in the recognition and treatment of sepsis. 

Sepsis is as common as heart attacks in the UK: five people lose their lives to sepsis every hour and nearly 80,000 people each year suffer life-changing after-effects. It’s a condition which arises when the body’s response to infection harms its own tissues and organs. It affects 245,000 people in the UK annually, claiming 48,000 lives. Sepsis can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and death if not recognised early and treated promptly. 

Sarah was instrumental in the origination and development of UKST’s landmark “Just Ask: ‘Could it be Sepsis?’” campaign, which helped bring sepsis into the national conversation and encouraged both healthcare professionals and the public to recognise the condition as a medical emergency. During Sarah’s time in post, public awareness of sepsis as a medical emergency has increased from 27% in 2012 to 91% in 2024, and UKST’s clinical tools have been widely adopted across the NHS. She has also championed innovative initiatives including the Sepsis Savvy programme, which has engaged hundreds of employers, public bodies and educational institutions in sepsis awareness, reaching millions of people across the UK. 

Beyond her work on sepsis, Sarah has held a number of trustee and governance roles across education and healthcare, including as a long-serving trustee of Fairley House School and the Multiple Birth Foundation, and as a governor of both St Paul’s Girls’ School and Marlborough College. Sarah studied English at Oxford University, and is widely respected for her ability to bring together communities, organisations and policymakers to tackle complex social and healthcare challenges. 

Sarah Hamilton-Fairley, CEO of The UK Sepsis Trust, said: “It is a profound honour to receive this award and I’m hugely grateful for the recognition. It’s incredibly touching to be recognised in this way, but it’s especially important to acknowledge that the achievements being celebrated are the result of a collective effort.  

“The UK Sepsis Trust (UKST) is powered by an extraordinary team of staff, volunteers, trustees, clinicians and supporters, all united by a shared determination to improve outcomes for people affected by sepsis. Every step forward we have made has only been possible because of their expertise, determination and commitment, so I am proud to accept this recognition on behalf of everyone who contributes to our mission.   

“There is still so much more work to be done, and I look forward to continuing that work together as we strive to raise awareness, save lives that are needlessly being lost and improve outcomes for everyone affected by this devastating condition. Time is of the essence.”  

The Lord Grade of Yarmouth CBE, Patron of UKST, said “This is wonderful recognition of the incredible commitment that Sarah has shown – devoting her time in order to stem the sepsis crisis.” 

Dr Ron Daniels BEM, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of The UK Sepsis Trust, said: “It is wonderful to see Sarah recognised in this way. Few people have given so much of themselves to improving the lives of others through the charitable sector, and this honour is a fitting celebration of her years of dedication, compassion and service. 

“When Sarah first became involved with The UK Sepsis Trust, she was brought in to help a young charity realise its potential. She brought strategic vision, energy and expertise at a pivotal moment in our development, helping to build the strong foundations that have enabled the organisation to grow and thrive. What began as a short-term commitment became a lasting one, driven by her passion for the cause and her determination to improve outcomes for people affected by sepsis. 

“Through her leadership and tireless hard work, Sarah has played an instrumental role in shaping The UK Sepsis Trust into the organisation it is today. We are enormously fortunate to have her, and this recognition is a richly deserved tribute to the selfless devotion she has shown to the people we serve.” 

Lord Mackinlay of Richborough said: “I’m delighted that Sarah has been awarded a National Honour. Under Sarah’s leadership, the UK Sepsis Trust provided invaluable help, support and advice to my family during my own experience of sepsis at the end of 2023, which almost cost me my life and has left me a quadruple amputee. I now work closely with Sarah to run the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Sepsis. This Group has the support of around 150 Parliamentarians from all main political parties and holds events to spread awareness of the early signs of sepsis. Sarah’s enthusiasm, professionalism and vast experience of the charity sector is pivotal to our work – her OBE is thoroughly well deserved.” 

Malintha Fernando MBE, Group Head of Digital Experience and Accessibility at HSBC, said: “It is truly wonderful to see Sarah recognised in this way. Through her leadership, compassion and unwavering commitment, she has transformed the conversation around sepsis, helping to drive meaningful progress in awareness, support and patient outcomes. This honour is richly deserved and a fitting celebration of the impact she has made. 

“Sarah has a remarkable ability to inspire others to get behind the cause. We are incredibly proud to contribute to the mission and look forward to continuing our partnership with Sarah and the team at UKST to raise awareness and improve outcomes for people affected by sepsis.” 

Mark Stock, Chair of Trustees, The UK Sepsis Trust, said: “In a world often driven by growth and profit, it is both refreshing and inspiring to recognise the profound impact of Sarah’s leadership. Her dedication to preventing harm, suffering, and loss of life from sepsis is nothing short of extraordinary.  

“Sarah’s relentless commitment to raising awareness – combined with her ability to influence stakeholders across schools, corporates, communities, and political circles – has enabled The UK Sepsis Trust (UKST) to deliver impact far beyond its size. Campaigns such as “Just ask: Could it be Sepsis?” have not only resonated widely but are saving lives through earlier recognition and treatment.  

“At a time when our health systems must pivot from treatment to prevention, Sarah’s lifelong dedication to improving population health stands as a model of purpose-led leadership. The stark reality of a 19-year gap in healthy life expectancy across communities, alongside the potential to save the NHS over £10bn annually through earlier sepsis detection, reinforces the scale and significance of this mission.  

“Today, we pause to recognise and celebrate Sarah’s remarkable contribution. Her humility, generosity of spirit, and unwavering determination embody the very essence of this honour.”  

The UK Sepsis Trust welcomes that the Department of Health are actively pursuing a Modern Service Framework (MSF) on Sepsis, but additionally calls for: 

• Urgent measures to improve the integration of rapid and point of care diagnostics for sepsis and severe infection into clinical pathways in all NHS settings including community care. 

• All proposals within the MSF to be adequately resourced, including commissioning for Excellence in Sepsis and severe infection Care across the NHS and providing resourced support and rehab rehabilitation for survivors. 

• Acute care settings to publish into the public domain performance and outcome measures with respect to sepsis and severe infection care.