An Ealing resident who heads the national charity The UK Sepsis Trust has been awarded an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to sepsis awareness.
Sarah Hamilton-Fairley, chief executive of The UK Sepsis Trust, has been recognised for services to sepsis awareness after more than a decade leading the national charity.
Ms Hamilton-Fairley joined the trust in 2015 and helped oversee campaigns that brought sepsis into the public spotlight and encouraged earlier recognition of the condition.
Sepsis affects around 245,000 people in the UK each year and is linked to an estimated 48,000 deaths. It occurs when the body’s response to an infection damages its own tissues and organs.
During her time at the charity, public awareness of sepsis as a medical emergency rose from 27% in 2012 to 91% in 2024, according to the trust.
Ms Hamilton-Fairley said of becoming an OBE: “It is a profound honour to receive this award and I’m hugely grateful for the recognition.
“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 and improve outcomes for everyone affected by this devastating condition.”
