Dr. Bella Wheeler

Dr Bella Wheeler is a social scientist and qualitative researcher in the Department of Primary Care Health Sciences and the Medical Sociology and Health Experiences Research Group (MS&HERG). Bella holds a PhD in Social Work and Social Care (University of Sussex, 2017) an M.Sc. in Social Research Methods (University of Sussex, 2014) and a B.A. (Hons.) in Cultures and Communities (University of Sussex, 2012).

Bella has undertaken research in various qualitative and mixed methods projects across the public, commercial and non-for-profit sectors. Her research focuses on public and community health with a particular interest in the social determinants of health, health inequalities and broader sociological understandings of health and illness. Bella draws on a range of qualitative and participatory methods to contribute to the development of sustainable and effective health and social care services.

Bella is currently lead researcher for the qualitative work package of the NIHR funded mixed methods study: Waiting times in Emergency Departments: inequalities and impact on health outcomes (ED-WAITS) https://www.phc.ox.ac.uk/research/groups-and-centres/health-economics-research/ED-WAITS. In this project she is conducting ethnographic case studies of four English emergency departments.

Bella also joined the NIHR funded project: Access to General Practice: Innovation, impact and sustainable change (GP-SUS) https://www.phc.ox.ac.uk/research/groups-and-centres/health_experiences/gp-sus to support ethnographic data analysis and completion of this study looking at GP appointment systems.