Dr Natalie Jones

With over 30 years of NHS experience across primary and secondary care, I bring a rich background spanning clinical practice, education, leadership, service transformation, and research. My clinical and academic work as an Occupational Therapist is dedicated to supporting people and families affected by health inequalities, long-term conditions, and neurological rehabilitation, with a particular focus on digital innovation and sustainable workforce development.

I have been awarded four NIHR Research Fellowships, including a doctoral fellowship for the BISTRo study (Breakfast group Interventions in Stroke Rehabilitation), which focused on improving eating and drinking interventions in acute stroke units, enhancing patient outcomes, and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration. I currently hold an NIHR Postdoctoral Research Award, and am hosted in Primary Care Doncaster, and embedded in the South Yorkshire Primary Care Training and Workforce Hub.

Throughout my career, I have led nationally recognised programmes that bridge research, innovation, and practice. As lead for the VICTOR impact tool and e-platform, now adopted by more than 55 health, care, and research organisations in the UK, I have championed new ways to capture and demonstrate research impact. My expertise in co-production and co-design research methods has supported the development of evidence that translates directly into service improvement and better outcomes for patients and professionals alike.

In addition to my research and innovation work, I have held strategic leadership roles influencing AHP and primary care workforce development, service transformation, and digital innovation across health and care systems. An alumna of the King’s Fund Clinical Leaders and Health Inequalities Leadership Programmes, and trained as a Microsystems Improvement Coach and PRINCE2 Programme Manager, I understand the realities of health and social care systems, the high expectations, limited resources, and pressures on leaders, teams, and educators. My approach is grounded in practical, evidence-based, and collaborative solutions that aim to improve outcomes for patients, carers, and professionals alike