Karen has worked in respiratory medicine since 1988.  Karen’s clinical role is varied and she see’s patients a number of respiratory conditions including asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, lung fibrosis, tuberculosis, lung cancer and bronchiectasis. Karen predominantly works in secondary care but also undertakes home visits.

Karen has represented nurses on a number of committees including the British Thoracic Society Standards of Care Committee, BTS Specialist Advisory Group for COPD.   She  has been involved in representing nurses on national guideline groups for nebulisers, asthma, bronchiectasis, COPD, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Quality Standards for Bronchiectasis and  the NICE COPD  Quality Standards Group and  Commissioning Framework Group.

Karen completed a post graduate diploma in CBT in 2003 and has developed  CBT for patients with respiratory problems who face psychological difficulties.  Karen completed a National Institute of Health Research PhD Clinical Academic Training Research Fellowship from 2011 to 2016.  Her PhD research was the largest  RCT  into Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for COPD  patients who experience anxiety and depression.  Karen is now a co-applicant for a HTA into further research in the use of CBT for respiratory patients before pulmonary rehabilitation and plans further research in CBT.