Professor Vanessa Heaslip
School of Health and Society
Current positions
Professor of Nursing and Healthcare Equity
Biography
Vanessa Heaslip is a Professor of Nursing and Healthcare Equity at Salford University and the lead Professor for the Directorate of Nursing and Midwifery. Her research interests are in communities who experience health inequity and social exclusion and whose voices are not traditionally heard in the academic and professional discourse. Professor Heaslip has numerous publications including book contributions, journal articles (professional and peer reviewed), editorials and discussion papers. She has received numerous awards and prizes including Burdett Trust Hero (2022), International Council of Nursing Global Nurse Leadership Scholar (2021), UK Woman of the Year (2019), Florence Nightingale Scholar (2016) and the BU Postgraduate Research Prize (2015).
Vanessa has a track record of research with people experiencing homelessness, people living with mental illness, people in the criminal justice system, Gypsy, Roma, Travellers as well as Widening Participation. She is currently involved in three research projects
- Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme: NIHR - A prospective randomised, controlled trial (RCT) to study the effectiveness of the early treatment of hypertrophic burn scars with Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) and silicone gel compared to silicone gel alone. Leading the PPI and Qualitative component of the study
- Arts and Humanities Research Council - Scaling Up Human Henge. Leading the health component of the study
- Department of Health and Social Care - Out of Hospital Care Model for people experiencing homelessness. Leading the data collection in the Bournemouth Locality
Vanessa is an experienced Doctoral supervisor, in 2020 she was awarded the UKCGE Quality Supervisor Award. In addition to her subject expertise she has methodological expertise in qualitative research, phenomenology and mixed method studies.
Areas of research
Healthcare Inequity, Equality and Diversity, Nursing, Homelessness, Mental Health, Gypsy, Roma, Travellers, Widening Participation, Phenomenological research
- Evidence Based Practice
- Healthcare Inequity
- Equality and Diversity
- Nursing
- Public Health
My research focuses on people and communities who experience healthcare inequity and people who find themselves living on the margins in their communities. This includes people who experience homelessness, Gypsy, Roma, Travellers, utilising heritage to promote mental health and wellbeing in people living with long term mental health challenges, people in contact with the criminal justice system, widening participation, and nursing.
Qualifications
- 2015 PhD Bournemouth University
- 2008 MA Health and Social Care Education Bournemouth University
- 2000 BSc (Hons) Community Nursing: District Nursing Southampton University
- 1996 Dip He & Prof Registration in Nursing Adult Nursing Bournemouth University
Memberships
- Nursing and Midwifery Council (since 1996)
- 2022 International Council of Nurses Global Nurse Leadership Scholar
- 2020 UKCGE Recognised Research Supervisor
- 2015 Senior Fellowship Higher Education Academy
- 2009 Fellowship Highter Education Academy