PPIE team
Stephen Duckworth – PPIE Lead
Stephen Duckworth has been an electric wheelchair user for over 40 years and has direct personal experience of living with pressure sores. Stephen is an Adjunct Professor of Bio-Engineering at the University of Southampton. He trained as a doctor in London and subsequently completed a Masters in Rehabilitation Studies and a PhD focussing on Disability and Equality at the University of Southampton. In July 2023, he was awarded the prestigious Doctor of Science degree by the University in recognition of his substantial contribution to scientific knowledge internationally, beyond that required for a PhD.
Stephen is currently a Non-Executive Director at Network Rail, the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He is also a Trustee of the Rugby Football Union Injured Players Foundation. Previously, Stephen was a member of the Council of the University of Southampton and Non-Executive Director of the Olympic Delivery Authority that created the infrastructure for the most successful Paralympic and Olympic Games in London 2012.
Nicci Aylward-Wotton, Cornwall Foundation Trust
Nicci Aylward-Wotton qualified in as a registered nurse in 1987, progressing to a senior staff nurse post following a research post. Nicci left the acute sector in 1990 to undertake her District Nurse (DN) training and completed a Nurse Practitioner BPhil degree at Exeter University. In 2001 Nicci was given the opportunity to lead the Tissue Viability Service in Cornwall Community with a focus on the prevention of pressure ulcers. Nicci completed her masters in Tissue Viability in 2008. Nicci has lead funding awards from the Health Foundation “Improving pressure damage detection in the community using continuous pressure monitoring”, with the latest PROMISE project involving four sites in the South-West Region. This work has resulted in winning the Title of Tissue Viability Nurse of the Year 2016, and Runner Up in Wound Care Nurse of the Year 2021 for the PROMISE teams. Nicci is currently working as a Research Fellow with the University of Southampton as clinical lead on the SEAMLESS project.
Joanna Pendray
Jo has a degree in Social Psychology from the University of Sussex and is an independent facilitator, trainer, consultant and coach working mainly with teams in health and social care. Before moving to independent consultancy in 2019, Jo worked in the healthcare sector, managing the Patient Safety Collaborative in Southwest England for the South West Academic Health Science Network (SW AHSN) and gaining a Post Graduate Certificate in Patient Safety and Simulation. Jo is a visiting lecturer on Patient Safety, with a focus on safety culture, at the University of Plymouth.
Jo is also an experienced Project Manager and managed the PROMISE project, developing an interest in the management of pressure ulcers in the community as a result.
Jo brings a diverse background to her work, having gained extensive skills and experience in a variety of sectors in HR and other senior management roles. She is currently working as an Associate with a number of South West and national organisations in health and social care.
Lynn Tatnell – PPIE Member
I have been involved as a PPI volunteer since 2009 and have done hundreds of projects for research. I also do lay reviews for the NIHR and panels, interviewing and all sorts of research involvements. This study is very worthwhile and by using PPI members of the public far better research is done on behalf of the public and patients smoother pathways in their care with the NHS. I searched for public involvement in research after my daughter died at the age of 24 with undiagnosed epilepsy with little or no care given during her lifetime. I fight everyday to improve the outcomes and attitudes for the patients and public.
Cynthia Calton – PPIE Member
I am a retired nurse with hospital, Community and NHS Direct experience. I have an interest in pressure sores from my Community days as the prevention in the Community was much harder but also dealing with patients with pressure sores coming out of hospital.
I have been involved with research as a patient from my first mastectomy to my last one 8 years ago. Since then I have been involved as a Research Ambassador with Treliske Hospital Truro.
Reg Taylor – PPIE Member
I am a lay member of the project team. Now retired my background is Physics, Maths, Computing, Telecommunications and Farming. I personally some years ago suffered from pressure sores following an accident and more recently I had some involvement with managing pressure sores experienced by a bedridden close family member.
Vanessa Mason – PPIE Member
I am a registered nurse, graduating from the University of Nottingham in 2013. Currently, I work within practice and professional development, supporting the development and training need of our future NHS workforce. Having recently completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Practice Education, with the University of Winchester, I value education and environments where people can share ideas and learn from each other.
My early career years consisted of vascular surgical inpatient and High Dependency Unit (HDC) care, often nursing people with complex and debilitating wounds. My recent clinical experience saw me practicing in Intensive Care Units (ICU), before and after the COVID-19 Pandemic, where I cared for people with life changing disease and injuries. Throughout my career I have cared for patients within the acute hospital setting to prevent and manage pressure ulcers. For me, it is a privilege and pleasure to now take part in research that seeks to improve the care of people in their home, empowering them and promoting their independence.
As chair of the BAME (Black and Asian Minority Ethnic) staff network at Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust, I am passionate and committed to highlighting the value of having a diverse workforce and addressing the existing inequalities within the organisation. These inequalities too often correlate to healthcare and the population we serve across Hampshire and the wider NHS. My place within this PPIE team helps to shape and achieve the equality, diversity and inclusion aspirations of the research.