Overview
I began working at the University of Exeter in March 2013 where I joined the medical imaging team as a senior lecturer delivering the image interpretation module to undergraduate students. I have since led on developing, gaining accreditation for and running a Radiographer Reporting masters. This has involved the delivery of teaching, designing of assessments as well administrative duties such as communicating with applicants and their clinical mentors and managing teaching schedules.
This has evolved into an MSc Advanced Clinical Practice which I now the deputy lead for. These latest developments have allowed us to offer broaden our scope in order to offer a range of modules, including new and clinically relevant modules in order to support the development of advanced clinical skills in the healthcare community. In addition, in september 2021 we welcomed our first cohort of Advanced Clinical Practice Degree apprentices.
Prior to joining the university I was employed as a diagnostic radiographer in a large regional hospital undertaking a range of radiographic duties for several years. I gained my MSc in Clinical Reporting and practiced as an advanced practitioner reporting radiographer with a focus on musculoskeletal plain image reporting. I still undertake some reporting sessions with my local trust as a member of the bank staff.
Qualifications
- BSc Hons Diagnostic Radiography, University of Hertfordshire 1996
- MSc Clinical Reporting, Canterbury Christchurch University College, 2005
- Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, University of Exeter, 2017
- Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, 2017
- Aspire Fellowship 2017
- Currently studying towards a PhD
Research
Research interests
I am currently undertaking a PhD looking at the impact of haemochromatosis (an inherited iron overload disorder) on the musculoskeletal system using imaging studies obtained from UK Biobank.
Publications
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Publications by category
Journal articles
Rachuba S, Knapp K, Ashton L, Pitt M (2018). Streamlining pathways for minor injuries in emergency departments through radiographer-led discharge.
Operations Research for Health Care,
19, 44-56.
Abstract:
Streamlining pathways for minor injuries in emergency departments through radiographer-led discharge
Diagnostic imaging services are essential to the diagnosis pathway for many patients arriving at hospital emergency departments with a suspected fracture. Commonly, these patients need to be seen again by a doctor or emergency nurse practitioner after an X-ray image has been taken in order to finalise the diagnosis and determine the next stage in the patients’ pathway. Here, significant waiting times can accrue for these follow-up consultations after radiographic imaging although the vast majority of patients are discharged. Research evidence from pilot studies suggests that patients with minor appendicular injuries could be safely discharged by a suitably qualified radiographer directly after imaging thereby avoiding queues for repeated consultation. In this study, we model patient pathways through an emergency department (ED) at a hospital in the South West of England using process mapping, interviews with ED staff and discrete event simulation (DES). The DES model allowed us to compare the current practice at the hospital with scenarios using radiographer-led discharge of patients directly after imaging and assess the reduction in patients’ length of stay in ED. We also quantified trade-offs between the provision of radiographer-led discharge and its effects, i.e. reduction in waiting times and ED workload. Finally, we discuss how this decision support tool can be used to support understanding for patients and members of staff.
Abstract.
Knapp K, Meertens R, Ashton LR, Hopkins S (2015). Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry beyond bone mineral density measurement: vertebral fracture assessment. Imaging and Oncology for Imaging and Therapy Professionals, 48-53.
Conferences
Ashton L, Fulford J, McAnulla S, Knapp KM, Heales C, Silver D, Williams CA (2017). The incidence of bone marrow oedema in asymptomatic adolescent footballers - an observational study.
Abstract:
The incidence of bone marrow oedema in asymptomatic adolescent footballers - an observational study
Abstract.
Publications by year
2019
Scott S, Gimpel M, Brodrick A, Beard C, Bowtell J, Fulford J, Williams C, Knapp K (2019). Differences in calcaneal quantitative ultrasound measurements between adolescents participating in professional athlete training.
2018
Rachuba S, Knapp K, Ashton L, Pitt M (2018). Streamlining pathways for minor injuries in emergency departments through radiographer-led discharge.
Operations Research for Health Care,
19, 44-56.
Abstract:
Streamlining pathways for minor injuries in emergency departments through radiographer-led discharge
Diagnostic imaging services are essential to the diagnosis pathway for many patients arriving at hospital emergency departments with a suspected fracture. Commonly, these patients need to be seen again by a doctor or emergency nurse practitioner after an X-ray image has been taken in order to finalise the diagnosis and determine the next stage in the patients’ pathway. Here, significant waiting times can accrue for these follow-up consultations after radiographic imaging although the vast majority of patients are discharged. Research evidence from pilot studies suggests that patients with minor appendicular injuries could be safely discharged by a suitably qualified radiographer directly after imaging thereby avoiding queues for repeated consultation. In this study, we model patient pathways through an emergency department (ED) at a hospital in the South West of England using process mapping, interviews with ED staff and discrete event simulation (DES). The DES model allowed us to compare the current practice at the hospital with scenarios using radiographer-led discharge of patients directly after imaging and assess the reduction in patients’ length of stay in ED. We also quantified trade-offs between the provision of radiographer-led discharge and its effects, i.e. reduction in waiting times and ED workload. Finally, we discuss how this decision support tool can be used to support understanding for patients and members of staff.
Abstract.
2017
Ashton L, Fulford J, McAnulla S, Knapp KM, Heales C, Silver D, Williams CA (2017). The incidence of bone marrow oedema in asymptomatic adolescent footballers - an observational study.
Abstract:
The incidence of bone marrow oedema in asymptomatic adolescent footballers - an observational study
Abstract.
2015
Knapp K, Meertens R, Ashton LR, Hopkins S (2015). Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry beyond bone mineral density measurement: vertebral fracture assessment. Imaging and Oncology for Imaging and Therapy Professionals, 48-53.
Lucy_Ashton Details from cache as at 2023-03-30 20:40:09
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Teaching
My teaching interests mainly focus on the interpretation of musculosketal plain x-ray images, including normal variants, appearances resulting from trauma and pathological processes.
I am module lead for HPDM128 Principles of Advanced Clinical Practice within MSc Advanced Clinical Practice. I also teach on PAM3019 Pathology and Image Interpretation 2 which is a BSc Medical Imaging module and RAD3001DA Applied Radiographic Knowledge (ARK) 3, one of the medical imaging degree apprenticeship modules.
Modules
2022/23
