Biography
Heather joined PenPEG in 2011. She became interested in patient and public involvement in research after 22 years’ experience of hospital visits with her own children. During this time she became aware that patients’ views and children’s voices were not always being heard and developed an interest in communication and transition from child to adult services. This interest developed and extended into dentistry for adults and paediatrics, specialist and rare disease, genetics, women’s health and diabetes.
She is interested in improving carer communication during and after hospital discharge, transplants and medication reviews. She has been involved in NIHR lay reviews and writing NICE commissioning guidelines. She has also been involved in interviewing, training, and assessing clinical staff. She recently joined the Child Heath and Maternity research team.