Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron

Right here, right now: tackling antimicrobial resistance to save lives from sepsis - with AMR Action UK

Recorded during World AMR Awareness Week, for the latest episode of 'Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron', UKST’s Founder & Chief Medical Officer Dr Ron Daniels is joined by Kirsteen Wills, Chief Executive of AMR Action UK. Together, they explore why antimicrobial resistance demands urgent action today, not in 2050.

While AMR awareness has grown globally, progress has stalled. Resistant infections are already making common illnesses harder to treat, increasing sepsis risk, and deepening health inequalities. Kirsteen explains why AMR messaging must shift from complex global projections to empowering the public, government and health professionals with clear, practical steps they can take to make a difference. 

The episode covers:

• Why AMR and sepsis are “two sides of the same coin” 
• Where UK momentum on AMR has stalled, and the consequences of under-investment
• The urgency of tackling health inequalities in resistant infection outcomes
• The impact of AMR in everyday illnesses like recurrent UTIs, especially for women
• The role of patient advocates in driving policy change, beyond awareness alone
• One Health challenges, and the need to make the issue of AMR relatable to the public
• AMR Action UK’s new calls to action including cleaner hospitals to reduce avoidable infections; correct IV antibiotic dosing to improve patient safety, and community point-of-care testing for faster, targeted treatment 
• What governments, clinicians, and the public can each do “right here, right now” to save lives

Tune in for a compelling conversation that highlights how simple, achievable changes can slow AMR, protect antibiotics, and prevent avoidable cases of sepsis.

Learn more about AMR Action UK at amr-action-uk.org  

Find support and information on sepsis at sepsistrust.org 

Sepsis and surgical mesh complications: Sling The Mesh’s Kath Sansom on the need for fully informed patient consent

Dr Ron Daniels is joined by journalist and campaigner Kath Sansom, founder of Sling The Mesh, to discuss the complications linked to surgical mesh and why fully informed consent is crucial for anyone considering surgery.

Drawing on her own experience and a decade of advocacy, Kath shares how inadequate information and follow-up have left thousands facing life-changing pain and recurrent infections – some of which can progress to sepsis. 

Together, the pair explores how to improve patient safety, strengthen regulation, and ensure every voice is heard.

In this episode they cover:

• What surgical mesh is and why it’s used 
• The potential for infection and therefore sepsis after mesh procedures
• Why some people get recurring infections after mesh is fitted 
• The importance of long-term follow-up and accurate device registries
• The medical device approval process shortcomings 
• The campaign for transparency, accountability, and informed consent
• Practical advice for anyone recovering from mesh surgery

Learn more or get support if you’ve had a procedure involving mesh at slingthemesh.co.uk 

Visit sepsistrust.org for information about sepsis and its symptoms. 

You can also try our free Sepsis Assessment Tool – a Class I medical device registered with the MHRA – to help decide when and how to escalate care. 

If you’re worried about infection, remember just ask: Could it be sepsis?

World Sepsis Day 2025: Introducing the Sepsis Assessment Tool

September is Sepsis Awareness Month, and the UKST team has been busy: from a Westminster meeting with ambassador Harry Redknapp and “bionic” Lord Craig Mackinlay, to nationwide #SepsisSavvy awareness events. But now, the spotlight turns to a project that's been years in the making...  

For World Sepsis Day 2025, UK Sepsis Trust’s Founder & Chief Medical Officer Dr Ron Daniels hosts a special edition of Sepsis Voices to unveil the charity’s brand-new Sepsis Assessment Tool: a free online checker that helps you determine the best course of action if you or a loved one has an infection. 

Joining Dr Ron is our first returning podcast guest, Melissa Mead, UKST’s Clinical Partnerships Lead and tireless sepsis awareness campaigner since the death of her son, William, in 2014. Melissa explains how this new tool could have changed her family’s story, and how it can save others’ lives from today. 

Together the pair discuss:

• How the Sepsis Assessment Tool works and when to use it
• How the tool will empower people to advocate for themselves and their loved ones 
• Safeguards to prevent unnecessary strain on NHS services 
• The key sepsis symptoms everyone should know 

The tool is free and live from today (13th September) at sepsistrust.org 

Learn more at: https://sepsistrust.org/about-sepsis/spotting-the-signs-of-sepsis/ 

Check your symptoms, share it with loved ones, and remember the question that saves lives: Could it be sepsis? 

A global approach to sepsis: Lessons from Western Australia with Dr Julie Dockerty

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:

• The logistical and political challenges of healthcare reform in Western Australia
• The relationship between rurality, ethnicity, and sepsis outcomes
• The need to address health inequalities beyond First Nations people 
• Lessons learned from the UK’s approach to sepsis
• Why collaboration between countries is key to tackling sepsis globally

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/ 

‘We need a national campaign’: Political action on sepsis with Lee Anderson MP

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:

• Lee’s personal connection to sepsis 
• The life-changing impact of sepsis on friends and constituents
• Why the APPG on Sepsis is vital to driving Government action
• The importance of early recognition, education and post-sepsis support
• Calls for unified care across all four nations of the UK
• The economic case for early diagnosis and better frontline training
• Lee’s message to fellow MPs and the public about why awareness matters

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

Watch Lee’s Westminster Hall debate on sepsis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfdQuk_6HeQ 

Fighting for dignity: Evan Francis on life with Fowler’s Syndrome, urosepsis and patient power

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:

• Evan’s experience of Fowler’s Syndrome and the onset of urosepsis
• The role of long-term catheter use in increasing sepsis risk
• Antibiotic resistance, and the importance of symptom tracking
• Stigma and misunderstanding around hidden disabilities
• The need for compassionate, joined-up care across the health system

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/ 

World Oral Health Day: Sepsis survivor Nick Whelan on the dangers of untreated dental infections

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: 

• How a routine tooth infection led Nick to develop life-threatening sepsis
• The early warning signs Nick missed – and how he eventually realised something was seriously wrong
• Why young, healthy people shouldn’t assume they’re invincible to sepsis
• Practical advice on recognising and responding to potential sepsis symptoms
• The importance of timely dental care in preventing serious infections 
• The need for equitable access to dental care across the devolved nations of the UK 
• UKST’s work to educate clinical professionals including dentists about sepsis 
• How Nick’s physical and mental health were affected by his experience 
• The range of support available to sepsis survivors and their caregivers 

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. 

Managing infection and sepsis risks in the cancer community – with expert advice from Blood Cancer UK

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:

• Why cancer patients often face a higher risk of infection and therefore sepsis
• How neutropenia affects the immune system and how it relates to blood cancer 
• The key signs of infection that could progress to sepsis if left untreated
• The fantastic free resources that Blood Cancer UK has created to make patient advocacy easier – including a behind-the-scenes look at the project 
• The role of charity collaboration in disseminating life-saving information 

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/