Workforce and Learning Research Group

The Workforce and Learning (WFL) research group is a cross-disciplinary centre of excellence in health services and education research. We use a range of methodologies including qualitative approaches, co-production and evidence synthesis. We conduct studies about how knowledge in primary care is produced, used, exchanged and learned. Our studies explore a range of factors which shape how the organisation and delivery of primary care maximises opportunities for equitable patient care. We work with a range of patient and public partners and stakeholders across our projects, to forefront social accountability and collaboration in our approaches to knowledge production.

Primary care is a diverse and exciting context for patient care and learning. Our work examines what works well in primary care and general practice and informs innovation within clinical care and learning organisation and delivery developments. Our research explores a range of interactions and practices in this setting from undergraduate learners through to postgraduate and professional workplace-based learning. We seek to inform and enhance the experience of patients in this setting, as well as support learners and practitioners to thrive.

• Collaborative and integrated working between General Practice and Community Pharmacies
• Sustainable GP workforce to support effective and equitable patient care
• Compound Pressures (e.g. pandemics, extreme weather events) in General Practice
• Investigating the conditions in which women GPs thrive in General Practice: What works, for whom, how and in what circumstances? (led by University of Surrey)
• ARAPAHO study (led by University of Manchester)

• NIHR Incubator Clinical Education Research
• ASME (Association for the Study of Medical Education)
• NIHR School of Primary Care Research (SCPR) Evidence Synthesis Working Group (ESWG)
• Society of Academic Primary Care (SAPC) Education Research Group
• RCGP Scientific Foundation Board

We prioritise capacity building and support a range of learners as partners in our research. These range from NIHR School of Primary Care Research (SCPR) internships, FHS students, through to postgraduate pre-doctoral, doctoral and post-doctoral studies. We offer supervision at the University of Oxford and support some external supervisory panels.

• Sam Rolfe (NIHR School of Primary Care Research internship 2024)
• Etienne Royer-Gray (NIHR School of Primary Care Research internship 2024)
• Dr. Heidi Stelling (NIHR funded doctorate at Newcastle University)
• Dr. Kelly Birtwell (NIHR School of Primary Care Research Post-Doctoral Fellowship, University of Manchester).
• Dr. Laura Emery (NIHR in-practice fellowship, University of Sheffield).
• Dr. Anthony Codd (MD, University of Newcastle)
• Dr Sarah Bennett (EdD student, Institute of Education, UCL)