Centre for Healthcare Research
Director: Professor Eila Watson
Contact: ewatson@brookes.ac.uk
About us
The Centre seeks to conduct multi-disciplinary research addressing important health and social care topics, and to support the development of the nursing, midwifery, allied health professional and wider healthcare workforce.
Our research is focussed in the following four areas:
- Supportive Cancer Care
- Maternity Care
- Clinical Care and Complex Health Needs
- Social Care
Related courses
- Professional Doctorate in Midwifery (DMid)
- Professional Doctorate in Nursing (DNurs)
- Advanced Research Design (Credit bearing module)
- Applied Health Research (MSc)
- Applied Research Methods (Credit bearing module)
- Data Analysis and Interpretation (Credit bearing module)
- Epidemiology and Research Methods (Credit bearing module)
- Planning and Managing Clinical Trials (Credit bearing module)
- Research Design (Credit bearing module)
External Collaborators:
- Professor Linda Sharp, University of Newcastle
- Professor Hisham Mehanna, University of Birmingham
- Professor Janet Dunn, University of Warwick
- Dr Sophie Hall, University of Nottingham
- Associate Professor Rachel Rowe, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford
- Professor Emerita Cindy Farley, Georgetown University, Washington, United States
- Dr Lauren Kearney, Conjoint Associate Professor of Midwifery,The University of Queensland, Australia
- Angela Dunne, Midwifery Lead, National Women & Infants Health Programme, HSE, Dublin
- Professor Pernilla Garmy, affiliate Prof, Kristianstad University, Sweden
Research impact
Our research findings help influence relevant national policy and strategy development and influence the clinical practice and education of health professionals locally, nationally and internationally. For further details see our Research Group pages.
Midwifery:
We occupy a central strategic position on research and knowledge exchange regarding water immersion during labour and waterbirth, and actively foster international collaboration. For instance our work is contributing to the development of a National Clinical Guideline for Ireland and we have hosted the first International Conference for Birth Pool Use During Labour and/or Birth (2024).
Social care:
Our collaborative research with the School and Public Health Nurses Association led to the publication of a report presented to the Houses of Parliament titled: The Forgotten Frontline – public health school nursing, unveiling the realities of school and public health nursing in the UK, A Survey Report. This work has also led to resource development for public health nurses in schools.
Supportive cancer care:
Our research on supportive cancer care highlights the physical, psychological, and social consequences of diagnosis and treatment, influencing national cancer policy and cancer charities’ strategies. It also informs the development and delivery of supportive care services at local and national levels.
Workforce:
Our workforce research focuses on NMAHP leadership, particularly enhancing communication with underserved communities. One example is a tool for lung cancer nurses to discuss clinical trials with patients (part of the Lung I-ACT study). This work directly impacts on the treatment and care outcomes of patients and their families, empowers nurses to take on more leadership roles in practice, and helps to shape the way that clinical trials information is delivered across care services and settings.
Midwifery:
We occupy a central strategic position on research and knowledge exchange regarding water immersion during labour and waterbirth, and actively foster international collaboration. For instance our work is contributing to the development of a National Clinical Guideline for Ireland and we have hosted the first International Conference for Birth Pool Use During Labour and/or Birth (2024).
Social care:
Our collaborative research with the School and Public Health Nurses Association led to the publication of a report presented to the Houses of Parliament titled: The Forgotten Frontline – public health school nursing, unveiling the realities of school and public health nursing in the UK, A Survey Report. This work has also led to resource development for public health nurses in schools.
Supportive cancer care:
Our research on supportive cancer care highlights the physical, psychological, and social consequences of diagnosis and treatment, influencing national cancer policy and cancer charities’ strategies. It also informs the development and delivery of supportive care services at local and national levels.
Workforce:
Our workforce research focuses on NMAHP leadership, particularly enhancing communication with underserved communities. One example is a tool for lung cancer nurses to discuss clinical trials with patients (part of the Lung I-ACT study). This work directly impacts on the treatment and care outcomes of patients and their families, empowers nurses to take on more leadership roles in practice, and helps to shape the way that clinical trials information is delivered across care services and settings.
Leadership
Dr Ethel Burns
Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, Research Group Lead Maternity Care (OxMater)
Dr Olga Kozlowska
Senior Lecturer in Research and Knowledge Exchange
