Staff Profile

I am a GP and PhD student at Newcastle University. Prior to medicine I worked as a Chemical Engineer working for large multinational organisations (Guinness, Proctor and Gamble and Rhodia), gaining invaluable experience in manufacturing and research and development.  My clinical training and love for research led her to an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) in General Practice.  I am passionate about supporting older people to live an independent and healthy life for as long as possible.

My engineering background naturally drew me towards an interest in Assistive Technology.  The NIHR ACF gave me the opportunity to complete a Masters in Clinical Research and my project explored the knowledge and experience of assistive technology among GPs (awarded distinction).   My doctoral fellowship, funded by the Alzheimer's Society, builds on this project and explores current Memory Service provision and professional practice regarding information and support with accessing Assistive Technology.

I am committee member of the British Geriatrics Society GeriGPs group.  This is group of GPs with a particular interest in the care of older people in the primary care setting.

https://www.bgs.org.uk/dr-lisa-newton

I am a GP studying for a PhD at Newcastle University.  My doctoral fellowship is funded by the Alzheimer’s Society. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/research/our-research/research-projects/enabling-people-dementia-access-and-understand-assistive-technology

Assistive technology could potentially support people with dementia to live independently for longer. Research has highlighted a complex system surrounding the provision of assistive technology. GPs and families living with dementia do not know where to get information on or how to access AT.  Current pathways need to be clarified to support people with dementia to obtain AT.  

My PhD explores the provision by Memory Assessment Services as they are the first service providing information after diagnosis. It is hoped through national surveys and qualitative work with professionals and people living with dementia and their family carers, I will be able to work with key stakeholders to co-design information and referral pathways.

The title of my thesis is:

Supporting Memory Assessment Services to enable people with dementia and their families’ timely access to assistive technology.

I deliver dementia teaching to the local Northumbria GP Training Programme.  This provides local GP trainees teaching on dementia relevant to their role in primary care.

I have no formal teaching responsibilities within the university

• Robinson L, Dickinson C, Magklara E, Newton L, Prato L, Bamford C. Proactive approaches to identifying dementia and dementia risk; a qualitative study of public attitudes and preferences. BMJ Open 2018, 8(2), e018677.
• Newton L, C Dickinson, G Gibson, K Brittain, AL Robinson. Exploring the views of GPs, people with dementia and their carers on assistive technology: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 2016, 6(5), e011132.
• Gibson G, Newton L, Pritchard G, Finch T, Brittain K, Robinson L. The provision of assistive technology products and services for people with dementia in the United Kingdom. Dementia 2016, 15(4), 681-701.
• Gibson G, Newton L, Pritchard G, Finch T, Brittain K, Robinson AL. The provision of assistive technology services for people with dementia in the United Kingdom. Dementia 2014, 1-21.
• Newton L. Assistive technologies [Podcast]. London: Sage Publications Ltd, 2013. Available at: http://ino.sagepub.com/content/suppl/2013/12/24/6.12.DC1/InnovAiT_Podcast_8_December.wav.
• Newton L, Gibson G, Pritchard G, Finch T, Brittain K, Kingston A, Robinson L. Assistive technologies in caring for the oldest old. In: 7th NIHR Trainee Conference 2013. 2013, Leeds: National Institute for Health Research.
• Robinson L, Gibson G, Kingston A, Newton L, Pritchard G, Finch T, Brittain K. Assistive technologies in caring for the oldest old: a review of current practice and future directions. Aging Health 2013, 9(4), 365-375.
• Newton L, Robinson L. Assistive technologies to maximise independence in people with dementia. InnovAit 2013, 6(12), 763-771.