Dr Mary Halter
Faculties, departments and locations
- Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education
- School of Nursing, Allied and Public Health
- Kingston Hill
Associate Professor Emergency Cardiovascular and Critical Care Research
- Email:
- [email protected]
About
I am an applied health services researcher, working in our Emergency Cardiovascular and Critical Care Research Group. I have worked at the Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education for some years, collaborating on and leading research projects associated with the NHS, its workforce and service users.
I supervise master's and PhD students from a range of health professional backgrounds. This brings me into contact with a diversity of research topics to which I can apply my methodological experience. I am an active reviewer for journals and research funding bodies.
Qualifications
- BSc Applied Social Science (Health Studies)
- MSc Medical Sociology
- PhD Health Services Research
- Certificate in Counselling Skills
Domains
I teach research methods, and supervise students at post-graduate level on their research assignments
Qualifications
- ILT Part I
- Associate Fellow Advance HE
My research interests are broad, although much of my work has focused on the evaluation of new roles in the NHS workforce, in pre-hospital, emergency, primary and secondary care. I focused in my own thesis on the clinical decision making processes that underpin practice in such roles. I have a passion for mixed methods research, and for researching through direct observation, drawing on ethnographic principles. All my research is done in collaboration with lay representatives, clinicians and academics from a range of disciplines. I have collaborated on or led research grants from the Department of Health National Institute for Health Research, Health Foundation, British Red Cross and British Heart Foundation.
Qualifications
- PhD Health Services Research
Specialisms
- Workforce and new roles
- Emergency care
- Mixed methods
Publications
Strategies for retaining nurses in district nursing services: a survey
Drennan, Vari M., Thurgate, Claire, Halter, Mary, Wu, Lihua and Alkan, Erkan, 2026, International Journal of Nursing Studies (178), Supplement pp 28-28, Published
Mapping same day, urgent and emergency care services across the UK: a mixed methods study protocol
Blackwell, Anna K M, Watkins, Scott, Jones , Bethan, Phillpotts, Emily, Tate, Joe, Benger, Jonathan, Booker, Matthew, Manley, Amy, Siriwardena, Niro, Asghar, Zahid, Vasilakis , Christos, Drennan, Vari M, Black, Sarah, Gage, Heather, Halter, Mary, Archibong, Uduak, Arnold, Rachel, Clark, Michael, Cooper, Alison, Edwards, Adrian, Gibson, Andy, Jagosh, Justin, Moore, Lee, West, Steve, Walsh, Nicola and Voss, Sarah, 2026, BMJ Open (16), 5, Published
Independence and interdependence of non-medical practitioners in the emergency care skill-mix (SKILLMix-ED): a multi-method study to develop a measurement tool
Taylor, Francesca, Halter, Mary, M Drennan, Vari, Gabe, Jonathan, Gage, Heather, Jarman, Heather, Heaton-Shrestha, Celayne and Brice, Catriona, 2026, Health and Social Care Delivery Research, E-pub ahead of print
Experience and perceptions of retention strategies in district nursing services: a web-based mixed methods cross-sectional survey
Alkan, Erkan, Drennan, Vari M., Thurgate, Claire, Wu, Lihua, Halter, Mary and Wang, Chao, 2025, Journal of Advanced Nursing, E-pub ahead of print
Successful retention strategies for nurses in home visiting nursing services: a scoping review
Drennan, Vari M., Ferrera, Joel Coll, Thurgate, Claire, Wu, Lihua, Halter, Mary and Alkan, Erkan, 2025, Journal of Advanced Nursing, E-pub ahead of print
Distinctive features of district nursing in contrast to nursing in other settings: a discussion
Drennan, Vari M., Thurgate, Claire, Halter, Mary, Wu, Lihua and Alkan, Erkan, 2025, British Journal of Community Nursing (30), 3pp 115-116, Published
Non-medical practitioners in the staffing of emergency departments and urgent treatment centres in England: a mixed qualitative methods study of policy implementation
Drennan, Vari M., Halter, Mary, Taylor, Francesca, Gabe, Jonathan and Jarman, Heather, 2023, BMC Health Services Research (23), Published
Configurations and outcomes of acute hospital care for frail and older patients with moderate to major trauma: a systematic review
Halter, Mary, Jarman, Heather, Moss, Phil, Kulnik, Stefan Tino, Baramova, Desislava, Gavalova, Lucia, Cole, Elaine, Crouch, Robert and Baxter, Mark, 2023, BMJ Open (13), 2, Published
Uptake of advanced clinical practice roles in the health service in England: perspectives at the micro level
Taylor, Francesca, Drennan, Vari M., Halter, Mary, Allan, Helen T. and Collins, Linda, 2022, SSM - Qualitative Research in Health (2), Published
Are advanced clinical practice roles in England's National Health Service a remedy for workforce problems? A qualitative study of senior staff perspectives
Drennan, Vari M., Collins, Linda, Allan, Helen, Brimblecombe, Neil, Halter, Mary and Taylor, Francesca, 2022, Journal of Health Services Research and Policy (27), 2pp 96-105, Published
Physician associates in the UK: development, status, and future
Straughton, Kate, Roberts, Karen A., Watkins, Jeannie, Drennan, Vari M. and Halter, Mary, 2022, JAAPA : official journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (35), 3pp 56-60, Published
Protocol for a scoping review on the development of policy, guidelines and protocols within emergency medical services
Renshaw, John, Halter, Mary and Quinn, Tom, 2022, British Paramedic Journal (6), 4pp 48-54, Published
Building the evidence base: 10 years of physician assistant/associate research in England : a special article
Drennan, Vari M. and Halter, Mary, 2020, Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (33), 10pp 1-4, Published
Factors impacting on eating in pediatric intestinal-transplant recipients: a mixed methods study
Mancell, Sara, Meyer, Rosan, Hind, Jonathan and Halter, Mary, 2020, Nutrition in Clinical Practice (35), 5pp 919-926, Published
Comparing physician associates and foundation year two doctors in training undertaking emergency medicine consultations in England: a mixed methods study of processes and outcomes
Halter, Mary, Drennan, Vari, Wang, Chao, Wheeler, Carly, Gage, Heather, Nice, Laura, De Lusignan, Simon, Gabe, Jonathan, Brearley, Sally, Ennis, James, Begg, Phil and Parle, Jim, 2020, BMJ Open (10), Published
Knowledge, attitudes and practices of UK paramedics regarding pharmacology and the legal, management and administration aspects of medicines: a cross-sectional online quantitative survey
Laws, Samantha, Wang, Chao and Halter, Mary, 2020, British Paramedic Journal (5), 2pp 1-9, Published
Integration and retention of American physician assistants/associates working in English hospitals: a qualitative study
Taylor, Francesca, Drennan, Vari M., Halter, Mary and Calestani, Melania, 2020, Health Policy (124), 5pp 525-530, Published
How is the emerging role of domiciliary physiotherapists who treat residents with dementia in nursing homes perceived by allied health professionals? A phenomenological interview study
McCarroll, Clare, van't Riet, Catherine and Halter, Mary, 2020, Health and Social Care in the Community (28), 1pp 279-290, Published
Perceived impact on efficiency and safety of experienced American physician assistants / associates in acute hospital care in England: findings from a multi-site case organisational study
Drennan, Vari M, Calestani, Melania, Taylor, Francesca, Halter, Mary and Levenson, Ros, 2020, JRSM Open (11), 10, Published
Confidence and willingness among laypersons in the UK to act in a head injury situation: a qualitative focus group study
Kulnik, Stefan Tino, Halter, Mary, Hilton, Ann, Baron, Aidan, Garner, Stuart, Jarman, Heather, Klaassen, Barry and Oliver, Emily, 2019, BMJ Open (9), 11, Published
Understanding patients' satisfaction with physician assistant/associate encounters through communication experiences: a qualitative study in acute hospitals in England
Taylor, Francesca, Halter, Mary and Drennan, Vari M., 2019, BMC Health Services Research (19), Published
Using deterministic record linkage to link ambulance and emergency department data: is it possible without patient identifiers?
Clark, S. J., Halter, M., Porter, A., Smith, H. C., Brand, M., Fothergill, R., Lindridge, S. J., McTigue, M. and Snooks, H., 2019, International Journal of Population Data Science (4), 1, Published
The role of physician associates in secondary care the PA-SCER mixed-methods study
Drennan MBE, Vari M, Halter, Mary, Wheeler, Carly, Nice, Laura, Brearley, Sally, Ennis, James, Gabe, Jon, Gage, Heather, Levenson, Ros, de Lusignan, Simon, Begg, Phil and Parle, Jim, 2019, Health Services and Delivery Research (7), 19, Published
Development and feasibility of the use of an assessment tool measuring treatment efficacy in patients with trimethylaminuria: a mixed methods study
Rutkowski, Krzysztof, Rahman, Yusof and Halter, Mary, 2019, Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease (42), 2pp 362-370, Published
What is the contribution of physician associates in hospital care in England? A mixed methods, multiple case study
Drennan, Vari M., Halter, Mary, Wheeler, Carly, Nice, Laura, Brearley, Sally, Ennis, James, Gabe, Jonathan, Gage, Heather, Levenson, Ros, De Lusignan, Simon, Begg, Phil and Parle, James, 2019, BMJ Open (9), 1, Published
Use and impact of the prehospital 12-lead ECG in the primary PCI era (PHECG2): protocol for a mixed-method study
Gavalova, Lucia, Halter, Mary, Snooks, Helen, Gale, Chris P., Weston, Clive, Watkins, Alan, Munro, Scott, Davies, Glenn, Hampton, Chelsey, Driscoll, Timothy, Rosser, Andy, Rees, Nigel, Black, Sarah and Quinn, Tom, 2019, Open Heart (6), 2, Published
The contribution of physician assistants/associates to secondary care: a systematic review
Halter, Mary, Wheeler, Carly, Pelone, Ferruccio, Gage, Heather, De Lusignan, Simon, Parle, Jim, Grant, Robert, Gabe, Jonathan, Nice, Laura and Drennan, Vari M., 2018, BMJ Open (8), 6, Published
Capturing complexity in clinician case-mix: classification system development using GP and Physician Associate data
Halter, Mary, Joly, Louise, de Lusignan, Simon, Grant, Robert L., Gage, Heather and Drennan, Vari M., 2018, BJGP Open (2), 1, Published
The determinants and consequences of adult nursing staff turnover: a systematic review of systematic reviews
Halter, Mary, Boiko, Olga, Pelone, Ferruccio, Beighton, Carole, Harris, Ruth, Gale, Julia, Gourlay, Stephen and Drennan, Vari, 2017, BMC Health Services Research (17), 824, Published
Paramedic assessment of older adults after falls, including community care referral pathway: cluster randomized trial
Snooks, Helen A., Anthony, Rebecca, Chatters, Robin, Dale, Jeremy, Fothergill, Rachael T., Gaze, Sarah, Halter, Mary, Humphreys, Ioan, Koniotou, Marina, Logan, Phillipa, Lyons, Ronan A., Mason, Suzanne, Nicholl, Jon, Peconi, Julie, Phillips, Ceri, Porter, Alison, Siriwardena, Aloysius Niroshan, Wani, Mushtaq, Watkins, Alan, Wilson, Lynsey and Russell, Ian T., 2017, Annals of Emergency Medicine (70), 4pp 495-505, Published
Patients' experiences of consultations with physician associates in primary care in England: a qualitative study
Halter, Mary, Drennan, Vari M., Joly, Louise M., Gabe, Jonathan, Gage, Heather and de Lusignan, Simon, 2017, Health Expectations (20), 5pp 1011-1019, Published
Interventions to reduce adult nursing turnover: a systematic review of systematic reviews
Halter, Mary, Pelone, Ferruccio, Boiko, Olga, Beighton, Carole, Harris, Ruth, Gale, Julia, Gourlay, Stephen and Drennan, Vari, 2017, Open Nursing Journal (11)pp 108-123, Published
Physician associates in primary health care in England: a challenge to professional boundaries?
Drennan, Vari M., Gabe, Jonathon, Halter, Mary, de Lusignan, Simon and Levenson, Ros, 2017, Social Science and Medicine (181)pp 9-16, Published
Physician associates in England's hospitals: a survey of medical directors exploring current usage and factors affecting recruitment
Halter, Mary, Wheeler, Carly, Drennan, Vari M., De Lusignan, Simon, Grant, Robert, Gabe, Jonathan, Gage, Heather, Ennis, James and Parle, Jim, 2017, Clinical Medicine, Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London (17), 2pp 126-131, Published
Physician associates working in secondary care teams in England: interprofessional implications from a national survey
Wheeler, Carly, Halter, Mary, Drennan, Vari M., de Lusignan, Simon, Grant, Robert, Gabe, Jonathan, Gage, Heather, Begg, Philip, Ennis, James and Parle, Jim, 2017, Journal of Interprofessional Care (31), 6pp 774-776, Published
Retaining nurses in metropolitan areas: insights from senior nurse and human resource managers
Drennan, Vari M., Halter, Mary, Gale, Julia and Harris, Ruth, 2016, Journal of Nursing Management (24), 8pp 1041-1048, Published
Physician associate and general practitioner consultations: a comparative observational video study
De Lusignan, Simon, McGovern, Andrew P., Tahir, Mohammad Aumran, Hassan, Simon, Jones, Simon, Halter, Mary, Joly, Louise and Drennan, Vari M., 2016, PLoS ONE (11), 8, Published
Involving older people in a multi-centre randomised trial of a complex intervention in pre-hospital emergency care: implementation of a collaborative model.
Koniotou, Marina, Evans, Bridie Angela, Chatters, Robin, Fothergill, Rachael, Garnsworthy, Christopher, Gaze, Sarah, Halter, Mary, Mason, Suzanne, Peconi, Julie, Porter, Alison, Siriwardena, A. Niroshan, Toghill, Alun and Snooks, Helen, 2015, Current Controlled Trials in Cardiovascular Medicine (16), Published
Physician associates and GPs in primary care: a comparison
Drennan, Vari M., Halter, Mary, Joly, Louise, Gage, Heather, Grant, Robert L., Gabe, Jonathan, Brearley, Sally, Carneiro, Wilfred and De Lusignan, Simon, 2015, British Journal of General Practice (65), 634, Published
Investigating the contribution of physician assistants to primary care in England: a mixed-methods study.
Drennan, Vari M., Halter, Mary, Brearley, Sally, Carneiro, Wilfrid, Gabe, Jonathan, Gage, Heather, Grant, Robert, Joly, Louise and de Lusignan, Simon, 2014, Health Services and Delivery Research (2), 16, Published
The contribution of physician assistants in primary care: a systematic review
Halter, Mary, Drennan, Vari, Chattopadhyay, Kaushik, Carneiro, Wilfred, Yiallouros, Jennifer, De Lusignan, Simon, Gage, Heather, Gabe, Jonathan and Grant, Robert, 2013, BMC Health Services Research (13), Published
Support and assessment for fall emergency referrals (SAFER 2) research protocol: cluster randomised trial of the clinical and cost effectiveness of new protocols for emergency ambulance paramedics to assess and refer to appropriate community-based care
Snooks, Helen, Anthony, Rebecca, Chatters, Robin, Cheung, Wai Yee, Dale, Jeremy, Donohoe, Rachael, Gaze, Sarah, Halter, Mary, Koniotou, Marina, Logan, Phillippa, Lyons, Ronan, Mason, Suzanne, Nicholl, Jon, Phillips, Ceri, Phillips, Judith, Russell, Ian, Siriwardena, A. Niroshan, Wani, Mushtaq, Watkins, Alan, Whitfield, Richard and Wilson, Lynsey, 2012, BMJ Open (2), 6, Published
Physician assistants in English general practice: a qualitative study of employers' viewpoints
Drennan, Vari, Levenson, Ros, Halter, Mary and Tye, Chris, 2011, Journal of Health Services Research and Policy (16), 2pp 75-80, Published
Complexity of the decision-making process of ambulance staff for assessment and referral of older people who have fallen: a qualitative study
Halter, Mary, Vernon, Susan, Snooks, Helen, Porter, Alison, Close, Jacqueline, Moore, Fionna and Porsz, Simon, 2011, Emergency Medicine Journal (28), 1pp 44-50, Published
Falls prevention trial in 999 callers: paving the way for a definitive trial of referral by the ambulance service. [Response to: Logan Philippa A, Coupland C A C, Gladman J R F, Sahota O, Stoner-Hobbs V, Robertson K, Tomlinson V, Ward, M, Sach T and Avery A J, Community falls prevention for people who call an emergency ambulance after a fall: randomised controlled trial BMJ 2010; 340:c2102]
Snooks, Helen A, Cheung, Wai-Yee, Gaze, Sarah A, Halter, Mary, Lyons, Ronan A, Phillips, Ceri J, Russell, Ian T and Siriwardena, Niro, 2010, BMJ (340), Published
A patient survey of out-of-hours care provided by Emergency Care Practitioners
Halter, Mary, Marlow, Tom, Mohammed, Daryl and Ellison, George T.H., 2007, BMC Emergency Medicine (7), 4, Published
Patients' experiences of care provided by emergency care practitioners and traditional ambulance practitioners: a survey from the London Ambulance Service
Halter, M., Marlow, T., Tye, C. and Ellison, G. T.H., 2006, Emergency Medicine Journal (23), 11pp 865-866, Published
Should emergency medical technicians be considered for the role of the emergency care practitioner?
Halter, M., Marlow, T., Jackson, D., Moore, F. and Postance, B., 2006, Emergency Medicine Journal (23), 11pp 888-888, Published
Hearing half the message? a re-audit of the care of patients with acute asthma by emergency ambulance crews in London
Snooks, H., Halter, M., Palmer, Y., Booth, H. and Moore, F., 2005, Quality and Safety in Health Care (14), 6pp 455-458, Published
Gaps between policy, protocols and practice: a qualitative study of the views and practice of emergency ambulance staff concerning the care of patients with non-urgent needs
Snooks, H. A., Kearsley, N., Dale, J., Halter, M., Redhead, J. and Foster, J., 2005, Quality and Safety in Health Care (14), 4pp 251-257, Published
Towards primary care for non-serious 999 callers: results of a controlled study of "treat and refer" protocols for ambulance crews
Snooks, Helen, Kearsley, N., Dale, J., Halter, M., Redhead, J. and Cheung, W. Y., 2004, Quality and Safety in Health Care (13), 6pp 435-443, Published
On-scene alternatives for emergency ambulance crews attending patients who do not need to travel to the accident and emergency department: a review of the literature
Snooks, H. A., Dale, J., Hartley-Sharpe, C. and Halter, M., 2004, Emergency Medicine Journal (21), 2pp 212-215, Published
Falls in the older population: a pilot study to assess those attended by London Ambulance Service but not taken to A&E
Close, Jacqueline C.T., Halter, Mary, Elrick, Allan, Brain, Geoffrey and Switf, Cameron G., 2002, Age and Ageing (31), 6pp 488-489, Published
The development of advanced clinical practitioners in NHS organisations providing acute, community and emergency services in London: an evaluative interview study
Drennan, Vari, Halter, Mary and Taylor, Francesca (2019). [Published]
Adult nurse turnover and retention: South London project report
Gale, Julia, Gourlay, Stephen, Grant, Robert, Halter, Mary, Harris, Ruth and Drennan, Vari M (2015). [Published]
Evaluation of the emergency care practitioner role in London: a study of the processes and outcomes of clinical decision making
Halter, Mary and Ellison, George (2008). London, UK: [Published]
Supporting the wellbeing of health and social care students during practice placements: a mixed-methods systematic review
Ooms, Ann, Heaton-Shrestha, Celayne, Halter, Mary, Thurgate, Claire, Kayyali, Reem, Sims, Georgina, Muleya, Wilson, Taylor, Francesca, Stroumpouki, Theodora, Micallef, Ricarda, Ransome, Hazel, Wu, Lihua, Price, Jayne and Akhtar, Farrukh(2026). [Published]
The non-medical practitioner workforce contribution in the emergency and urgent care system skill-mix in England: a mixed-methods case study
Halter, Mary, Drennan, Vari, Taylor, Francesca, Gage, Heather, Wang, Chao, Gabe, Jonathan, Jarman, Heather, Brearley, Sally and Marton, Deszo(2025). [Published]
Independence and interdependence of non-medical practitioners and other clinical staff in emergency departments
Taylor, Francesca, Halter, Mary, Drennan, Vari M, Brearley, Sally, Brice, Cat, Gabe, Jonathan, Gage, Heather, Jarman, Heather, Marton, Dezso and Wang, Chao(2023). [Published]
Knowledge, attitudes and practices of UK paramedics regarding pharmacology and the legal, management and administration aspects of medicines
Laws, Samantha, Wang, Chao and Halter, Mary(2021). [Published]
Advanced Clinical Practice Roles in the NHS: panacea or challenge for workforce problems?
Drennan, Vari, Taylor, Francesca and Halter, Mary(2020). [Published]
Physician Associates in General Practice in England: a challenge to professional boundaries
Drennan, Vari, Gabe, Jonathan and Halter, Mary(2016). [Published]
Older fallers: the risk and opportunity of ambulance non conveyance
Halter, M., Snooks, H., Close, J., Cheung, W. Y. and Moore, F.(2006). [Published]
Emergency care of older people who fall: a missed opportunity
Roberts, SE, Halter, Mary, Snooks, H, Close, J, Cheung, WY and Moore, F(2005). [Published]
Emergency care practitioners: impact of the new role
Halter, Mary, Marlow, T and Jackson, D(2005). [Published]
The configurations and impact of different skill-mix involving non-medical practitioners in emergency and urgent care hospital-based settings (SkillMix-ED): a two-stage scoping and systematic review
Halter, Mary, Drennan, Vari, Taylor, Francesca, Gage, Heather, Gabe, Jonathan, Brice, Catriona, Jarman, Heather and Wang, Chao (2025). Kingston upon Thames, U.K.: [Published]