Broadly, my research focuses on understanding how healthcare work is organised; from the micro-level factors that shape practices - on what basis people act, how they account for their actions - to the systems by which healthcare professionals are governed, as well as the influence of broader cultural and political discourses.  These interests have led to a particular focus on risk, safety and accountability in healthcare.

Theoretically my research is informed primarily by science and technology studies, medical sociology and anthropology.  Methodologically, I use a range of qualitative methods including case studies, ethnography, interviews, focus groups and documentary analysis.

I would be interested in supervising social science studies of healthcare work, particularly around issues of risk, safety and accountability.

My recent research concentrates on the processes of investigation and redress for healthcare failures, and the effects these processes have on those involved.  Independent inquiries have been a particular focus.  Increasingly, inquiries are the government's response of choice to high-profile healthcare failures.  My work has explored how we understand the causes of failures, how healthcare failures are established, the forms of knowledge that count, and how inquiries are reshaping the ways in which healthcare professionals are held to account.

My current NIHR-funded project is 'Periprosthetic femoral fractures: data, management and outcomes', a mixed-methods study which aims to inform the shape of services for people with periprosthetic fractures.  I am co-investigator of the qualitative arm of the project which is using multiple case studies to explore different configurations of services, the factors that drive variation in practices, and identify what good care looks like in this context.

My teaching responsibilities include:

Problem Based Learning I am a PBL tutor for first and second year medical students.

Lectures and Workshops I give lectures on aspects of sociology of health and illness such as health inequities, medicalisation, risk and overdiagnosis.

Coursework I contribute to a study skills module in Year 1.  I am one of the convenenors for the Health, Culture coursework for third year medical students.  For my subject, students analyse a recent healthcare inquiry report to critically explore organisational aspects of safety. 

Guest Lectures I regularly give guest lectures on qualitative research methods and safety in healthcare on post-graduate courses.

In addition, I am the academic integrity officer for Lancaster Medical School.