Emily Fletcher
Research Fellow and Project/Trial Manager
E.fletcher@exeter.ac.uk
07826 529331
Smeall building 108
Smeall Building, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK
Overview
Emily Fletcher is a Research Fellow and Project/Trial Manager. She undertook an undergraduate degree in Psychology (BSc) at Southampton Solent University, and a postgraduate degree in Health Psychology (MSc) at the University of Southampton. After working with NHS Direct as a call handler, she has subsequently held various Graduate Research Associate and Research Fellow roles in Exeter within the Primary Care Research Group in the Faculty of Health and Community Sciences.
Emily is an active member of the Exeter Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx). As for 6th March 2024, Emily will be the Exeter Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx) Early- and Mid-Career Researcher representative. She is also the national co-lead of the Primary Health Care Scientists (PHoCuS) within the Society for Academic Primary Care.
Qualifications
MSc Health Psychology (Southampton)
BSc Psychology (Southampton)
Research
Research interests
Emily has a particular interest in General Practitioner workforce and workload issues. For the last decade at least, England’s GP workforce has been in ‘crisis’ with a third of GPs report their intention to quit within five years. Increases in workload and complexity and depleted GP workforce are likely to impact on GPs’ ability to manage competing demands within a ten-minute consultation. Emily’s PhD developed methods to extract and cross-reference consultations data from practice systems with usage data from digital tools, with potential to be used research into digital tools for conditions other than cancer that look at the association with GP workload and workflow during consultations.
Research projects
​NIHR SPOtting Cancer among Comorbidities (SPOCC) – Research Fellow working on intervention development targeting patients with a diagnosis of anxiety and/or depression who have signs of cancer.
RCGP 'Retaining the GP workforce in direct patient care – A qualitative study of the factors influencing career intentions of GPs' (ReGROUP RELOADED)
Research networks
Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC)
Publications
Journal articles
Spooner S, Fletcher E, Anderson C, Campbell J (In Press). GP workforce pipeline. British Journal of General Practice
Campbell JL (In Press). Identifying policies and strategies for GP retention in direct patient care in the United Kingdom: a RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method Panel study. BMC Family Practice
Pittet LF, Moore CL, McDonald E, Barry S, Bonten M, Campbell J, Croda J, Dalcolmo M, Davidson A, Douglas MW, et al (2023). Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination for protection against recurrent herpes labialis: a nested randomised controlled trial. eClinicalMedicine, 64, 102203-102203.
Fletcher E, Burns A, Wiering B, Lavu D, Shephard E, Hamilton W, Campbell JL, Abel G (2023). Workload and workflow implications associated with the use of electronic clinical decision support tools used by health professionals in general practice: a scoping review. BMC Primary Care, 24(1). Abstract.
Dunn B (2022). How well do Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Behavioural Activation for depression repair anhedonia? a secondary analysis of the COBRA randomised controlled trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy Abstract.
Fletcher E, Campbell J, Pitchforth E, Freeman A, Poltawski L, Lambert J, Hawthorne K (2020). Comparing international postgraduate training and healthcare context with the UK to streamline overseas GP recruitment: four case studies. BJGP Open, 4(3), bjgpopen20X101034-bjgpopen20X101034. Abstract.
Gomez-Cano M, Fletcher E, Campbell JL, Elliott M, Burt J, Abel G (2020). Role of practices and Clinical Commissioning Groups in measures of patient experience: analysis of routine data. BMJ Quality & Safety, 30(2), 173-175.
Long H (2020). Understanding why primary care doctors leave direct patient care: a systematic review of qualitative research. BMJ Open, 10
Abel GA, Gomez-Cano M, Mustafee N, Smart A, Fletcher E, Salisbury C, Chilvers R, Dean SG, Richards SH, Warren F, et al (2020). Workforce predictive risk modelling: development of a model to identify general practices at risk of a supply-demand imbalance. BMJ Open, 10(1). Abstract. Author URL.
Fletcher E, Sansom A, Pitchforth E, Curnow G, Freeman A, Campbell J (2019). Overseas GP recruitment: comparing international GP training with the UK and ensuring that registration standards and patient safety are maintained. British Journal of General Practice (Open)
Campbell JL, Fletcher E, Abel G, Anderson R, Chilvers R, Dean SG, Richards SH, Sansom A, Terry R, Aylward A, et al (2019). Policies and strategies to retain and support the return of experienced GPs in direct patient care: the ReGROUP mixed-methods study. Health Services and Delivery Research, 7(14), 1-288. Abstract.
Carter M, Fletcher E, Sansom A, Warren FC, Campbell JL (2018). Feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of an online alternative to face-to-face consultation in general practice: a mixed-methods study of webGP in six Devon practices. BMJ Open, 8(2). Abstract. Author URL.
Sansom A, Terry R, Fletcher E, Salisbury C, Long L, Richards SH, Aylward A, Welsman J, Sims L, Campbell JL, et al (2018). Why do GPs leave direct patient care and what might help to retain them? a qualitative study of GPs in South West England. BMJ Open, 8 Abstract.
Richards DA, Rhodes S, Ekers D, McMillan D, Taylor RS, Byford S, Barrett B, Finning K, Ganguli P, Warren F, et al (2017). Cost and Outcome of BehaviouRal Activation (COBRA): a randomised controlled trial of behavioural activation versus cognitive-behavioural therapy for depression. Health Technol Assess, 21(46), 1-366. Abstract. Author URL.
Finning K, Richards DA, Moore L, Ekers D, McMillan D, Farrand PA, O'Mahen HA, Watkins ER, Wright KA, Fletcher E, et al (2017). Cost and outcome of behavioural activation versus cognitive behavioural therapy for depression (COBRA): a qualitative process evaluation. BMJ Open, 7(4). Abstract. Author URL.
Fletcher E, Abel GA, Anderson R, Richards SH, Salisbury C, Dean SG, Sansom A, Warren FC, Campbell JL (2017). Quitting patient care and career break intentions among general practitioners in South West England: findings of a census survey of general practitioners. BMJ Open, 7(4). Abstract. Author URL.
Richards DA, Ekers D, McMillan D, Taylor RS, Byford S, Warren FC, Barrett B, Farrand PA, Gilbody S, Kuyken W, et al (2016). Cost and Outcome of Behavioural Activation versus
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Depression (COBRA): a randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial. Lancet
Holt T, Fletcher E, Warren F, Richards S, Calitri R, Green C (2016). Telephone triage systems in UK general practice: analysis of consultation duration during the index day in a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Br J Gen Pract
Varley A, Warren FC, Richards SH, Calitri R, Chaplin K, Fletcher E, Holt TA, Lattimer V, Murdoch J, Richards DA, et al (2016). The effect of nurses’ preparedness and nurse practitioner status on triage call management in primary care: a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the ESTEEM trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 58, 12-20.
Calitri RA, Warren FC, Wheeler B, Chaplin K, Fletcher E, Murdoch J, Richards SH, Taylor R, Varley A, Campbell JL, et al (2015). Distance from practice moderates the relationship between patient management involving nurse telephone triage consulting and patient satisfaction with care. Journal of Health & Place Abstract.
Warren FC, Calitri R, Fletcher E, Varley A, Holt TA, Lattimer V, Richards D, Richards S, Salisbury C, Taylor RS, et al (2015). Exploring demographic and lifestyle associations with patient experience following telephone triage by a primary care doctor or nurse: secondary analyses from a cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ Qual Saf, 24(9), 572-582. Abstract. Author URL.
Murdoch J, Varley A, Fletcher E, Britten N, Price L, Calitri R, Green C, Lattimer V, Richards SH, Richards DA, et al (2015). Implementing telephone triage in general practice: a process evaluation of a cluster randomised controlled trial. BMC Fam Pract, 16 Abstract. Author URL.
Campbell JL, Fletcher E, Britten N, Green C, Holt T, Lattimer V, Richards DA, Richards SH, Salisbury C, Taylor RS, et al (2015). The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of telephone triage for managing same-day consultation requests in general practice: a cluster randomised controlled trial comparing general practitioner-led and nurse-led management systems with usual care (the ESTEEM trial). Health Technol Assess, 19(13), 1-viii. Abstract. Author URL.
Murdoch J, Barnes R, Pooler J, Lattimer V, Fletcher E, Campbell JL (2015). The impact of using computer decision-support software in primary care nurse-led telephone triage: interactional dilemmas and conversational consequences. Soc Sci Med, 126, 36-47. Abstract. Author URL.
Campbell JL, Fletcher E, Britten N (2014). Erratum: Telephone triage for management of same-day consultation requests in general practice (the ESTEEM trial): a cluster-randomised controlled trial and cost-consequence analysis (Lancet (2014) 384 (1859-1868)). The Lancet, 384(9957).
Murdoch J, Barnes R, Pooler J, Lattimer V, Fletcher E, Campbell JL (2014). Question design in nurse-led and GP-led telephone triage for same-day appointment requests: a comparative investigation. BMJ Open, 4(3). Abstract.
Campbell JL, Fletcher E, Britten N, Green C, Holt TA, Lattimer V, Richards DA, Richards SH, Salisbury C, Calitri R, et al (2014). Telephone triage for management of same-day consultation requests in general practice (the ESTEEM trial): a cluster-randomised controlled trial and cost-consequence analysis. Lancet, 384(9957), 1859-1868.
Murdoch J, Barnes R, Pooler J, Lattimer V, Fletcher E, Campbell JL (2013). Question design in nurse-led and GP-led telephone triage for same-day appointment requests: a comparative investigation. BMJ Open, 4
Campbell JL, Britten N, Green C, Holt TA, Lattimer V, Richards SH, Richards DA, Salisbury C, Taylor RS, Fletcher E, et al (2013). The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of telephone triage of patients requesting same day consultations in general practice: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial comparing nurse-led and GP-led management systems (ESTEEM). Trials, 14 Abstract. Author URL.
Fletcher E, Goodwin VA, Richards SH, Campbell JL, Taylor RS (2012). An exercise intervention to prevent falls in Parkinson's disease: an economic evaluation. BMC Health Services Research, 12, 426-426.
Fletcher E, Goodwin VA, Richards SH, Campbell JL, Taylor RS (2012). An exercise intervention to prevent falls in Parkinson's: an economic evaluation. BMC Health Serv Res, 12 Abstract. Author URL.
Faulkner J, Walshaw E, Campbell J, Jones R, Taylor R, Price D, Taylor AH (2010). The feasibility of recruiting patients with early COPD to a pilot trial assessing the effects of a physical activity intervention. Prim Care Respir J, 19(2), 124-130. Abstract. Author URL.
Richards SH, Campbell JL, Walshaw E, Dickens A, Greco M (2009). A multi-method analysis of free-text comments from the UK General Medical Council Colleague Questionnaires. Med Educ, 43(8), 757-766. Abstract. Author URL.
Conferences
Abel G, Gomez Cano M, Smart PA, Mustafee N, Fletcher E, Campbell J (2017). Primary Care Workforce: How can we Identify those General Practices at Risk of a Supply-Demand Imbalance?. 46th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC ASM 2017). 12th - 14th Jul 2017.
Long L, Sansom A, Aylward A, Robinson S, Anderson R, Fletcher E, Welsman J, Dean S, Campbell J (2017). UNDERSTANDING WHY UK GPS ARE LEAVING GENERAL PRACTICE-A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH. Author URL.
External Engagement and Impact
Awards
- South West SAPC (Cardiff) 2016 early career researcher oral presentation competition: 1st prize.
- University of Exeter Above and Beyond 2017 award for Rigour (dedicated, consistent effort to support primary care colleagues and for the work you do outside of my contracted role to support the development and acquisition of research awards).
- University of Exeter Above and Beyond 2018 award for Impact (outstanding contribution to the Institute for Health Research (now the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences).
- University of Exeter Above and Beyond 2020 award for Challenge (going the extra mile in the face of many roadblocks to setting up the UK centre for the BRACE trial during the COVID-19 pandemic).
- University of Exeter PGR Research Showcase poster competition 2023: 3rd prize.
Committee/panel activities
- Exeter ambassador for the Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC)
- South West regional champion for the Primary Healthcare Scientists (PHoCuS), part of the Society for Academic Primary Care
- National co- lead for PHoCuS as part of SAPC
