Teesside palliative care doctor wins national research prize

A Teesside palliative care doctor has received national recognition for research aimed at making end-of-life support fairer for people with advanced lung disease.

Dr Donna Wakefield, a consultant in palliative medicine at University Hospitals Tees, received an NIHR20 Rising Research Leaders prize on 6 October. The National Institute for Health and Care Research selected 20 early and mid-career researchers across four career stages as part of its 20th anniversary programme.

Wakefield was one of five winners in the doctoral category. Each winner receives a £10,000 professional development award, paid to their employer, alongside tailored leadership and development opportunities. The NIHR says the prizes recognise research leadership, innovation, inclusion and impact.

Looking at who misses out

Wakefield's work examines whether people with serious lung conditions have equal access to palliative care, which can include relief from symptoms, practical support and help for families. Her focus covers both cancer and non-cancer conditions, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial lung disease.

A systematic review led by Wakefield and published in EClinicalMedicine brought together 54 studies involving 4.2 million people. Its analysis found that people with lung cancer in the lowest socioeconomic group were 18 per cent less likely to receive palliative care than those in the highest group. The authors said people in poorer communities often had greater illness and symptom burdens despite being less likely to access support.

The review also found gaps in the existing evidence. Few studies examined how different characteristics overlap, while qualitative research pointed to barriers including financial pressure, insurance arrangements in some countries and access to pain relief and oxygen. That means the next stage must look beyond headline access figures and listen to people living with the conditions.

Patients and carers will shape the next stage

Wakefield's next research phase will involve patients with advanced lung disease, their carers and healthcare professionals. The aim is to understand what makes end-of-life support harder to reach and to identify practical ways of improving it.

The NIHR profile says her doctoral research links expertise from the Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre at the University of Hull, Newcastle University's Health Inequalities Team and Deep End Network, and the Cicely Saunders Institute at King's College London. It also credits her with helping to build research capacity through regional and national palliative care collaborations, hospice work and mentoring.

Why the award matters locally

The award brings national backing to a question with direct relevance for Tees Valley communities: whether someone's income, postcode or diagnosis affects the support available near the end of life. It does not itself change services, and the research is still developing, but the professional development funding and NIHR support give Wakefield more scope to build the evidence and involve people whose experiences are often missed.

In the NHS announcement, Wakefield said she wanted to hear from people who could share experiences and ideas to “make care fairer for everyone”. Anyone interested in the research can use the contact route provided in the original University Hospitals Tees announcement.