After completing my nurse training at Northwick Park Hospital, I spent two years in Bahrain (paediatrics and maternity). Upon returning to the UK, I took up the role of Staff Nurse and Ward Sister in the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital where I obtained an ENB qualification.  This was followed by a further ENB course in Research Awareness and an MSc in Research and Evaluation. From 1997 to 2002 I undertook the role of Research Nurse at NSIC promoting the understanding, utilisation and conduct of research amongst nursing staff. I currently have a Research Training Fellowship which is undertaken at the NSIC and Physiology Dept, St Mark’s Hospital.