Sarah Orr

I began my career at 18 as an RAF Logistics Officer, undertaking roles ranging from managing aircraft logistics in Afghanistan to leading regional RAF recruitment.

After leaving the RAF in 2010, I spent three years in the Bay Area, California, working as an Emergency Medical Technician on a 911 ambulance, gaining valuable frontline clinical and operational insight.

I returned to the UK and joined Great Western Hospitals as a Resilience Officer, later stepping up to Head of Emergency Planning during COVID‑19, where I led the Trust’s response. I subsequently redesigned the organisation’s Mass Casualty and Business Continuity plans to strengthen learning, continuous improvement and resilience.

Driven by a commitment to patient‑centred leadership, I completed an MSc in Healthcare Leadership and, in June 2025, became General Manager for Cardiology and Respiratory. In this role, I have focused on delivering strategic service improvement, addressing operational pressures, and securing executive support for sustainable change in a challenging financial environment.