ARC East Midlands Theme Lead joins national screening panel

Natalie Armstrong, Professor of Healthcare Improvement Research in the Department of Health Sciences, has been appointed to the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) as an Implementation Expert.

Professor Armstrong is also the Theme Lead for Translating and Implementing Sustainable Service Improvement, which ensures that our research findings are widely shared with our public and partner organisations to improve health and social care.

The UK NSC advises ministers and the NHS in the four UK nations about all aspects of health screening and supports implementation of screening programmes.

Professor Armstrong said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed to the UK NSC to contribute implementation expertise. Having served two terms on the UK NSC’s Adult Reference Group, it’s great to be able to take the next step and progress to the main committee.”

The UK NSC is accountable to the four UK chief medical officers who agree work plans for the committee on an annual basis.

Professor Armstrong is a medical sociologist by background and while her research has covered a number of healthcare topics, she has a longstanding interest in screening. She has completed research on cervical, breast, and antenatal screening, and is currently a co-investigator on two screening focused NIHR Programme Grants (one on atrial fibrillation and one on adding cardiovascular screening to the AAA screening programme).

In 2012, Professor Armstrong edited a special issue of the journal Sociology of Health & Illness entitled The Sociology of Medical Screening: Critical Perspectives, New Directions.