I graduated from the University of the West of England in 1995 having completed a degree in sociology.  I then went to Cardiff University and completed a PhD in the field of medical sociology that looked at the social and political dimensions of chronic fatigue syndrome.   
I joined the primary care unit at the University of Bristol in 2002 and have undertaken a number of research studies including: an evaluation of over-the-counter medicines and the role of the pharmacy counter assistant; evaluation of GP appointment systems; and the organisation of out of hours care; initiatives to reduce child obesity; a programme of research to improve cancer diagnostics in primary care; and a number of studies looking to optimise the management of child eczema.  
Since 2016 I have been based at the National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaborative (NIHR ARC West). I continue to do primary care research such as the evaluation of electronic consultation systems. I have also undertaken research projects which are focused on patient safety initiatives including: use of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) in community settings and the Emergency Department checklist. More recently I have been evaluating the implementation of a new initiative to manage end of life care called the Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT). For a number of these studies I work closely with the West of England Academic Health Science Network (WEAHSN) who support the spread and adoption of healthcare initiatives to improve patient care and safety.