Research and Innovation

This study is led by the University of Surrey. To assess whether giving fluids to patients in the last days of via a drip (clinically-assisted hydration / CAH) is effective at preventing them from developing delirium / terminal agitation. Dorothy House were randomised to usual care.

Using Virtual Reality to Aid Patient Wellbeing Within the Day Hospice and at Home.

Working in collaboration with the NIHR Clinical Research Network, Bath City Farm and Bath City Football Foundation we are co-hosting 3 community engagement events to rasie the profile of pallaitve and end of life care, and research in this context.

This exploratory qualitative study is explotring the intimacy needs of patients at end of life, and of their partners. Qualitative semi-structured interviews are conducted with patients, partners of patients, and with bereaved partners. Hospice staff and contracted volunteers are also invited to participate in interviews.

The Intimacy Study has received additional funding to enable us to include participants from other hospices, who will act as participant identification centres. We are currently working on submitting the amendment to ethics.

University of Bath PhD in collaboration with Dorothy House and the Research Institute for the Care of Older people, to improve care for those with dementia living in care homes.

UWE Bristol Robotics are collaborating with Dorothy House to participate in a study that looks at socially assistive robots among older adults, the objective is to better understand the needs of older adults and how a companion robot can help support them in their daily lives.

Candy joined Dorothy House in 2019 and is a clinical academic nurse, also working at the University of the West of England as a Professor of Clinical Research and Practice. She has previously delivered clinical care, established and run national clinical services, and led national and international research for people with long term conditions and complex pain. It is important to Candy that research topics are driven by patient identified need and the outcomes of that research directly improve care.

Kate is an experienced social science researcher with ten years research exposure within higher education having previously held Research Associate positions at the University of Bath and the University of Cambridge.  Kate’s research interests include; behavioural operations management, social and community entrepreneurship, human and corporate engagement with social and environmental issues, cyber-security and technology.  Kate is currently working with clinical and non-clinical staff and volunteers on service implementation, evaluation, and improvement at Dorothy House.

Prior to Dorothy House, Claire worked as a Senior cardiothoracic research nurse at Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust. Passionate about evidence based practice she is responsible for research delivery, assessing NIHR portfolio studies, feasibility, set-up and recruitment. Claire is also the hospice research link nurse for the South West Clinical Research Network.  Claire also supports the team with the education programme.

Charlotte started at Dorothy House in May 2018, initially joining as an administrator within the Clinical Coordination Team at the Hospice before joining the Research Team at the end of September 2020. Charlotte is also the Coordinator for the Hospice User Group. Please get in touch by emailing research@dorothyhouse-hospice.org.uk if you are interested in finding out more.