About Professor Scott Wilkes
I am Head of the School of Medicine, Professor of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Sunderland, and part-time GP in North Tyneside.
Since 2018, I have led the multi-year General Medical Council Quality Assurance process to establish the new medical school at the University.
Our Medical School attracts local talent from non-traditional backgrounds, delivering the philosophy to widen access to medicine to ensure that the profession reflects the communities it serves. Our educators and facilities are world-leading, and our graduates will follow careers in many specialities, with a significant proportion focusing on GP and psychiatry.
With over 30 years of experience as a GP and 24 years of experience as an NHS researcher, I have worked on the Northumberland Local Research Ethics Committee, the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care.
I also served as a non-Exec Director of the Academic Health Science Network, North East and North Cumbria, and chaired the National Institute for Health Research Yorkshire and North East Research for Patient Benefit Panel.
In addition, I have led the NIHR Clinical Research Network North East and North Cumbria Primary Care Speciality Group, sat on the National Institute for Health and Care Research In-practice Fellowship programme panel, and am a member of the Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC).
I have also delivered a number of BMJ masterclass lectures throughout the UK.
My research interests centre on the management of infertility and hypothyroidism in general practice and embedding new technologies in clinical consultation.
I am very keen to discuss PhD proposals with prospective students.
Teaching and supervision
PhD students as Director of Studies:
- David Townshend: Surgical management of end-stage ankle arthritis. 2024–2025
- Mia Holley: Consequences of over-diagnosing hypothyroidism in an ageing UK population (CODHA UK): a national primary care database study. 2021–2024
- Andrew Sturrock: The role of the pharmacist in the health promotion of oral health and the interprofessional prevention of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). 2019–2020
- Greg Robertson: The Epidemiology, Management and Outcome of Acute Fractures in Team Sports. 2017–2019
- Paula Bradley: Primary Care Head and Neck Cancer Symptom Risk Assessment Tool (HANdCART). 2017–2021
- Reza Mofidi: Data Mining and Associated Analytical Tools as Decision Aids for Healthcare practitioners. 2016–17
- Gemma Donovan: A Text message Intervention to support MEdicines adherence mobiLised through community pharmacY (TIMELY). 2016–21
- Heather Garthwaite: MONitoring first-cycle ovulation Induction for clomifene ciTrate with serum mid-luteal prOgesteRone versus UltraSound (MONITOR US). 2016–23
- Ajay Malviya: Hip arthroscopy and its evolving role in the management of femoroacetabular impingement. 2015–2016
PhD students as co-supervisor:
- Yitka Graham: An exploration of patient experiences of Bariatric Surgery. 2013–16
Master's student supervision:
- Eustina Limula: NHS England Education NENC WTE GP ITP. 2024–26
- Chinonso Akwazie: Health Education England GP ITP. 2023–25
- Charles Limula: Health Education England GP ITP. 2022–24
- Abdullah Aliyan: Health Education England GP ITP. 2021–23
- Elizabeth Thomas: Health Education England GP ITP. 2019–21
- Hasan Basri: Health Education England ITP. 2018–20
- Catherine Evans: Professional determinants of successful obesity management in primary care. Health Education England ITP. 2017–19
- Shwetha Tonnachinnakuppe: Ethnic influences on childhood obesity. Health Education England ITP. 2016–2018
- Tahmina Rokib: Pharmacist Led cAre in General practicE (PLAGE) Pharmacy Research UK Level 2 Training bursary. 2016–17
- Alan Green: “Is AKI in the community managed optimally?”
Funder: Health Education Foundation bursary. 2016–17 - Andrew Sturrock: Bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaw. 2016–17
- Catherine Porter: Exploring the lived experience of Kleinfelter’s Syndrome. Integrated Academic Training Programme (GP). 2015–17
- Kimberley Stewart: Attitudes and perceptions of patients and professionals to anticoagulation: warfarin versus NOACs. Funder: Pharmacy Research UK Training Bursary. 2016–18
Interests
- How new technologies are embedded in the clinical consultations
- Infertility management in general practice
- Hypothyroidism and thyroid control in general practice
- Multi-method evaluations of interventions in general practice
Research
My research interests centre on embedding new technologies in the clinical consultation.
My PhD, awarded in 2008, was entitled ‘Evaluation of open access hysterosalpingography in the initial management of infertility in primary care’.
My work includes the management of infertility in primary care, fertility preservation for cancer survivors and cancer diagnosis in primary care.
Current projects include the primary care management of thyroid disease, stroke rehabilitation, and peripheral arterial disease diagnostics.
My research experience includes the use of multiple research methods in health care evaluation, including cluster randomised controlled trials, focus groups, and in-depth interviews.
Recent projects/current work:
- Optimum therapy for those with Atrial Fibrillation aFtEr Completing miTral valve repair surgery – The AFFECT trial
Investigators: Enoch Akowuah, Rebecca Maier, Bilal Kirmani, James Wason, LAura Ternent, Helen Mossop, Laura Green, Gregory Lip, Julie Sanders, Scott Wilkes, Gavin Murphy, Sarah Murray
Date: 2024–2030
Funding: NIHR HTA £2,117,945
- Cancer Patients Needs Assessment in Primary Care (CANAssess 2)
Investigators: Miriam Johnson, Joseph Clark, Alexandra Wright-Hughes, Robbie Foy, Terry McCormack, Jon Dickson, Scott Wilkes, David Meads, David Currow, and John Blenkinsopp
Date: July 2019–May 2024
Funding: Yorkshire Cancer Research £1,398,435
- Immediate oral, immediate topical or delayed oral antibiotics for Acute otitis media with discharge (the runny ear study: REST)
Investigators: Alsatair Hay, Michael Moore, Brendan Delaney, Anne Schilder, Scott Wilkes, Vibhore Prasad, Richard Morris, Christie Cabral, Jeremy Horwood, Harriet Downing, Sarah Gallagher, Vasa Curcin, Andy Lovering, Sian Noble, and Paul Little
Date: Jan 2018–Dec 2020
Funding: NIHR HTA £1,461,391
- Text message Intervention to support MEdicines adherence mobiLised through community pharmacY (TIMELY)
Investigators: Gemma Donovan, Jonathan Ling, Felicity Smith, Scott Wilkes
Date: 1 September 2016–31 August 2021
Funding: NIHR DRF £281,164
- Attitudes, perceptions and behaviours associated with Hospital Admission Avoidance in the Frail and Elderly (HAAFE)
Investigators: Scott Wilkes, Rosie Dew
Date: 1 October 2016–31 July 2017
Funding: Northumberland CCG, Research Capacity Funding. £20,607
- Variation in service funding and delivery for disabled children and young people in times of austerity: A Europe-wide patient and professional survey
Investigators: Scott Wilkes, Rosie Dew, Karen Horridge
Date: 1 January 2017–30 April 2017
Funding: European Academy of Childhood Disability £6,720
- Clinical and genetic determinants of THyRoid control IN general practicE (CATHRINE)
Investigators: Scott Wilkes, Onyebuchi E Okosieme, Salman Razvi, Simon H Pearce, Vinay S. Eligar, Peter N Taylor, Colin M Dayan, Heather J. Cordell, Rosaleen J. Anderson, Gemma Donovan, Kathryn King, Graham Leese, Janis Hickey, Rosie Dew
Date: 13 May 2015–12 November 2016
Funding: AMCo Ltd £108,914
- Exploring Multidisciplinary Use of unLicenSed medicines In primary and secONdary care (EMULSION)
Investigators: Gemma Donovan, Lindsay Parkin, Lyn Brierley-Jones, Scott Wilkes
Date: 1 January 2015–31 December 2015
Funding: PRUK/UKCPA £50,000
- The National Trial of Tonsillectomy IN Adults (NATTINA): a clinical and cost effectiveness study
Investigators: Janet Wilson, Musheer Hussain, Catherine Haighton, Hisham Mehanna, James O'Hara, Christopher Raine, Nick Steen, Frank Sullivan, Luke Vale, Nikki Rousseau, Sean Carrie, Kim Ah-See, Andrew Coatesworth, Scott Wilkes, David Crampsey
Date: 1 April 2014–31 July 2019
Funding: NIHR HTA £1,678,739
- Innovative phtoplesythmography technology for rapid non-invasive assessment of peripheral arterial disease in primary care
Investigators: Allen, J., Sims, A., Stansby, G., Wilkes, S., Wilson, L., Lecouturier, J., Vale, L.
Date: 1 August 2014–31 July 2017
Funding: NIHR i4i Challenge Awards £1,226,008
- Robot Assisted Training for the Upper Limb after Stroke (RATULS)
Investigators: Rodgers, H., Aird, L., Andole, S., Dawson, J., Eyre, J., Finch, T., Ford, G., Hogg, S., Howel, D., Hughes, N., Krebs, H., Price, C., Rochester, L., Shaw, L., Turner, D., Ternent, L., Vale, L., Warburton, E,. Wilkes, S.
Date: 1 January 2014–30 September 2018
Funding: NIHR HTA £3,094,000
- Study of Optimal Replacement of thyroxine in ElDerly (SORTED)
Investigators: Salman Razvi, Scott Wilkes, Simon Pearce, Vicky Ryan, Tim Rapley, Lorna Ingoe
Date: April 2012–Oct 2013
Funding: NIHR Research for Patient Benefit scheme £143,160
- Randomised trial of response to an invitation to Self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) versus repeat Invitation or cervical screening in persistent Non-rEsponders (SHINE)
Investigators: Louise Cadman, Scott Wilkes, Diana Mansour, Janet Austin, Anne Szarewski
Date: 2012–13
Funding: Cancer Research UK £95,000
Areas of expertise
- Infertility management in primary care
- Management of hypothyroidism in general practice
- Multi-method researcher: both qualitative and quantitative research method expertise
- Theories underpinning the embedding of new technologies in clinical consultations including Normalisation Process Theory
Further information
- Governor, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 2023–ongoing
- Governor, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust: 2021–ongoing
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) In-practice Fellowship. Panel member. 2023–ongoing
- Chair, National Institute for Health Research, RfPB Committee, Yorkshire and North East, 2016–2017
- Primary Care Specialty Group Lead, Clinical Research Network: North East and North Cumbria, 2013–2018
- Non-Executive Director, Academic Health Science Network: North East and North Cumbria, 2014–2017
- Member, Society for Academic Primary Care Member, 2003–ongoing
- Associate Editor, Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 2010–2015
- NIHR Senior Leaders forum, Ashridge Business School, Berkhampsted, 2012–2014
- Chair, National Institute for Health Committe, RfPB Committee, North East, 2012–2016
- RCGP Research Paper of the year award; panel reviewer, 2012–2014
- GP Clinical Lead for R&D, North of England Commissioning Support Unit, 2013–2016
- BMJ Masterclass; Infertility management in Primary Care (six venues throughout the UK), 2013–2014
- Primary Care Exec Lead, Comprehensive Local Research Network, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, 2008–2013
- Clinical Lead, Primary Care Research Network, Northern and Yorkshire, 2010–2013