Following completion of a Bachelor of Nursing degree at the University of Glasgow I commenced employment within the medical directorate within the Southern General Hospital initially working in a gastroenterology ward and later within cardiology and respiratory medicine. I also worked in an orthopaedic rehabilitation ward where I became interested in rehabilitation and care of the older adult.

In 1992 I joined the newly opened Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries unit at the Southern General Hospital, working within the High Dependency area. In 1999 I became a ‘G-Grade’ Sister within the Spinal Injuries Unit, setting up a Respiratory Care Unit, working with tetraplegic patients requiring artificial ventilation and training carers how to look after such patients in their own homes.

I have been a lecturer within the School of Health, Nursing and Midwifery, University of the West of Scotland since November 2001 initially working in the undergraduate BSc (Adult ) Nursing Programme. Since 2012 I have been involved in the teaching, and development of the BA Integrated Public Service degree with a keen interest in support of students within this fully articulated degree. This programme has now been superseded, following successful validation in May 2015, by the BA (Hons) Integrated Health and Social Care and the BA (Hons) Integrated Health and Social Care (with Administration).

Currently I am the FE college partnership link between Further Education colleges and the School of Health, Nursing and Midwifery for the BA (Hons) Integrated Health and Social Care programme.                    

My desired research direction is in relation to the integration of health and social care. This will incorporate a number of areas which inlcudes education, support and housing to improve outcomes for people who utilise services and their families.

I am also keen to explore the future work-force within public services and the evolving and changing roles along with exploring the hidden talent that is often within serives, which if recognised, nurtured and developed could make a valuable contribution to integrated services.

Resarch around educational experiences of wider access and articulation students is also an area of interested for myself and I am keen to explore this through collaborative research with colleagues from Further Education Institutions

I would like to collaborate with the International Foundation of integraed Care (IFIC). Links have already been made in relation to educational links and anticipate that this could lead on to research collaborations.

From a national perspective I am keen to collaborate with the ALLIANCE (Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland) as well as Health Improvement Scotland

Integration of health and social care services

Education of non-traditional students and widening access to education

Student support