In episode 21 of Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron, UKST’s Founder & Chief Medical Officer is joined by Dr Julie Dockerty, emergency medicine consultant and Principal Medical Advisor at the Department of Health in Western Australia, to explore how one of the world’s most remote and vast regions is tackling sepsis through systemic change.

Drawing on parallels with the UK’s own journey, Ron and Julie discuss the unique challenges of improving sepsis outcomes across Western Australia’s diverse geography and population – from urban centres to remote Aboriginal communities.

Julie shares her experience leading a unified approach to sepsis across WA’s healthcare system, and the importance of cultural safety, stakeholder engagement, and sustained political will in ensuring no one falls through the cracks.

The episode covers:

Tune in for a compelling conversation about equity, innovation, and the power of global knowledge-sharing in the fight against sepsis.

You can learn more about sepsis and the UK Sepsis Trust’s mission at https://sepsistrust.org/ 

Access our clinical tools: https://sepsistrust.org/healthcare-professionals/clinical-tools/ 

In episode 20 of Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron, UKST’s Founder & Chief Medical Officer is joined by Lee Anderson, MP for Ashfield and a leading parliamentary voice on sepsis.

Lee speaks candidly about how the condition has affected his own family – with his wife surviving sepsis twice – as well as constituents, and his friend and former colleague Lord Mackinlay, who lost all four limbs after contracting sepsis.

These experiences have fuelled Lee’s passionate calls for a Government-backed public awareness campaign and his support for the relaunched All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Sepsis, now one of the largest APPGs in Westminster.

The episode covers:

Tune in for a powerful conversation on how personal experience drives political action – and why Lee agrees with UKST that sepsis must become a national health priority. 

You can learn more about sepsis and the UK Sepsis Trust’s mission at sepsistrust.org

Learn more about the APPG on sepsis: https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/APPG/sepsis

In episode 19 of Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron, UKST’s Founder & Chief Medical Officer is joined by Evan Francis, a disability campaigner and survivor of urosepsis, to mark Catheter Awareness Week in June.

Evan lives with Fowler’s Syndrome – a rare condition affecting the bladder that led to her long-term catheterisation and a life-threatening sepsis episode. In this frank and informative conversation, she shares the realities of navigating daily life with a suprapubic catheter, the challenge of being heard by healthcare professionals, and why self-advocacy is vital in managing long-term conditions like hers.

This episode builds on our previous conversation with Kidney Care UK, highlighting the increased risk of infection and sepsis associated with in-dwelling devices, and the need for greater public and clinical understanding.

The episode covers:

Tune in for a compelling conversation on lived experience, dignity in care, and how listening to patients can lead to better outcomes for all.

If you’ve been affected by sepsis and would like free support, reach out today: https://sepsistrust.org/get-support/ 

In this episode of Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron, we shine a light on the links between dental infections and sepsis – just in time for World Oral Health Day on 20th March.

Host Dr Ron Daniels, Founder & Chief Medical Officer of UK Sepsis Trust speaks to Scottish sepsis survivor and university student, Nick Whelan, about his harrowing ordeal. 

Listen to learn: 

Nick’s story shows how sepsis can affect anyone, at any time. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of infection, seek medical attention immediately – early intervention can be life-saving.

Need support? Visit sepsistrust.org for help and resources. 

Released for World Cancer Day (4th February), episode 17 of Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron highlights a critical crossover that cancer patients to be aware of between infection, neutropenia, and sepsis. 

Dr Ron Daniels, UKST’s Founder & Chief Medical Officer, is joined by Blood Cancer UK’s Health Information Manager, Rachel Yarham, to discuss:

Sepsis can escalate rapidly, but with the right knowledge, early intervention can save lives. 

Whether you're living with cancer, caring for someone who is, or just want to be more informed, this episode offers essential advice and shines a spotlight on a fantastic new resource created by Blood Cancer UK, that is fully endorsed and supported by UKST: https://bloodcancer.org.uk/understanding-blood-cancer/treatment/infection-neutropenia-sepsis/ 

As ever, if you’ve been affected by sepsis you can access our free, nurse-led support services at https://sepsistrust.org/get-support/ 

In episode 16 of Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron, UKST’s Founder & Chief Medical Officer speaks with two inspiring guests for Men’s Health Month. Rob Forkan shares his extraordinary journey of resilience after surviving the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami and later battling sepsis. He offers powerful insights into finding purpose and strength through unimaginable challenges.

Devoted father Louis Rickman recounts his wife Louise’s recent battle with sepsis following the birth of their first child, Rex, as well as the devastating loss of his brother to sepsis in 1999.

This episode covers: 

Tune in to this special episode, released in honour of Men’s Mental Health Month during November 2024, to hear two extraordinary men reflect on their experiences with honesty and hope. 

Of course, if you’re struggling with your mental health at any time, you can also access free nurse-led sepsis support services via our website: https://sepsistrust.org/get-support 

You can also learn more about sepsis and UKST’s mission at sepsistrust.org 

Find out about Rob’s work with Gandys at gandys.com and Preveo at thinkpreveo.com 

In episode 15 of Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron, UKST’s Founder & Chief Medical Officer is joined by Caroline Hughes, Support Services Manager at the Meningitis Research Foundation, to discuss the links between sepsis and meningitis.

Released following World Meningitis Day on 5th October, this episode sheds light on the interconnectedness of these life-threatening conditions – including the impact on survivors and their families – along with the urgent need for awareness, and how timely intervention can save lives. 

Caroline shares the vital work her organisation does to support individuals affected by meningitis and the global efforts to defeat it, including their involvement in the World Health Organisation’s initiative to defeat bacterial meningitis by 2030.

The episode covers:

• Caroline’s insights into the global burden of meningitis 

Tune in for a comprehensive discussion on the importance of early recognition and the life-saving impact of collaboration in the fight against meningitis and sepsis.

You can learn more about sepsis and the UK Sepsis Trust’s mission at sepsistrust.org, and discover resources on meningitis at meningitis.org. 

Other resources mentioned in the episode: 

Read Lauren’s story: https://sepsistrust.org/sepsisvoices/lauren/ 

Listen to Tilly and Lucy’s story: https://sepsisvoices.podbean.com/e/beyond-the-numbers-illuminating-the-reality-of-paediatric-sepsis/ 

In episode 14 of Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron, UKST’s Founder & Chief Medical Officer Ron Daniels is joined by former Member of Parliament Craig Mackinlay, for an episode released during Sepsis Awareness Month.

Craig’s story is one of immense resilience. After surviving sepsis, he underwent quadruple amputation and has since turned his experience into advocacy for better sepsis care. Recently appointed to the House of Lords, Craig is now using his platform to push for crucial changes in healthcare that could save lives and improve outcomes for sepsis survivors.

The episode covers:

• Craig’s personal experience with sepsis and the challenges of adapting to life with limb loss

Tune in for an inspiring conversation and insights that shed light on the realities of life after sepsis and the urgent need for change.

You can learn more about sepsis and UK Sepsis Trust’s ‘Step Up’ campaign by visiting sepsistrust.org  

In episode thirteen of Sepsis Voices, UKST’s Founder & Joint CEO Dr Ron Daniels is joined by Jane Plumb MBE, Founder and CEO of Group B Strep Support, for an episode released during Group B Strep Awareness Month.

Group B Streptococcus is the leading cause of severe infection including meningitis in newborns, and Jane knows this all too well, having tragically lost her son, Theo, to it. Since Theo’s death, Jane has been at the forefront of advocacy and education efforts to combat this usually preventable infection.

Like any infection, left untreated Group B strep can progress to sepsis – therefore it’s vital that our two organisations work together to raise awareness in the hope of ending preventable deaths from these conditions.

The episode covers:

• Jane’s family’s story

You can find out more about Group B Strep Support’s work via their website: https://gbss.org.uk/ 

And as ever, you can learn more about sepsis or get support from UK Sepsis Trust at https://sepsistrust.org/  

In the twelfth episode of Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron, Dr Ron Daniels is joined by Deborah Duval, managing editor of Kidney Care UK’s quarterly magazine, Kidney Matters, and head of the charity’s Kidney Kitchen.

As a Type 1 diabetic living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and two-time sepsis survivor, Deborah is uniquely placed to speak to the interrelationship of the conditions, and what our organisations are doing to work together to improve sepsis outcomes for at-risk patient groups.

In this is episode, released in time for Diabetes Awareness Week (10th-16th June), the pair discuss:

- The differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and the treatments for these conditions

- Deborah’s organ transplant journey – including connecting with donor families through mutual consent

- Risk factors that predispose kidney patients and diabetics to infection, and therefore sepsis  

- Deborah’s sepsis experiences, which resulted in life support

- What UKST and Kidney Care UK are doing in partnership to raise awareness of sepsis

- How sepsis can result in acute kidney injury, which needs to be treated with dialysis

- The amazing work of Kidney Care UK to support people with CKD and acute kidney injury

If you’d like to access Kidney Care UK’s amazing resources, head to their website: https://kidneycareuk.org/

If you’re looking for support following sepsis, whether you’re a survivor, carer or you’ve been bereaved by the condition, head to UKST’s website: https://sepsistrust.org/