Sally trained initially as a physiotherapist in Manchester. In 1988, she completed a degree in Nursing Studies at King's College London. However, for many years Sally has been mainly involved in patient representation, including membership of Community Health Councils, Patient and Public Involvement Forums and Local Involvement Networks (LINks). She has been a member of the NHS Constitutional Advisory Forum,

The Organ Donation Taskforce and the NHS Future Forum. Currently Sally holds visiting fellowships in patient and public involvement at the National Nursing Research Unit, King's College London, and the Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences, Kingston University and St George's University of London. She is also a lay member on the National Quality Board