Researcher biography

Neil joined the School of Pharmacy in September 2001 as a senior lecturer. Prior to his appointment at the University, Neil was a hospital pharmacist with extensive experience managing clinical pharmacy services in teaching hospitals in England. He has experience on general medical, renal, geriatric, cardiac, endocrinology and intensive care wards and also held conjoint appointments with Aston and Manchester Universities. In 1998 Neil moved to Australia where he was appointed as the Assistant Director of Pharmacy at the Royal Brisbane Hospital and as an adjunct appointment as a clinical Senior Lecturer in the School of pharmacy.

Neil teaches cardiovascular disease therapeutics to 3rd year students and is the course coordinator for PHRM4012 Patient Centred Integrated Care, a capstone course for the 4th year students.

Neil has two major research themes within Quality use of Medicines in the School of Pharmacy.

Neil's first research theme is on better understanding medication non-adherence with a particular focus on how patient's beliefs and behaviour impact on this. He is interested in exploring how validated adherence scales can be utilised to better understand reasons for non-adherence to medicines in individuals to inform interventions tailored to an individual's-specific reason for non-adherence. Current projects involve better understanding beliefs about medicines and illness and adherence in patients with a chronic disease and communication with patients and the impact on adherence.

Neil's second research theme is on developing the evidence to support future roles for pharmacists in the healthcare setting in Australia. He is particularly interested in further developing the evidence for the pharmacist working in a collaborative model in a general practice setting in Australia.