On the evening of Wednesday 26th April 2023 Professor Juliet MacArthur, Chief Nurse Research & Development, NHS Lothian and Honorary Professor of Practice at Queen's University, gave a Professorial Lecture in the Council Chamber, Lanyon Building, QUB.  The title of the lecture was Vision, Visibility and Values: building research capacity through collaborative leadership. 

High quality research has a vital role to play in clinical decision-making and practice as well as to inform and underpin healthcare policy.  Research capacity in both the NHS and academic settings is recognised as a crucial element for the ongoing development of Nursing and Midwifery as professional disciplines and for positive patient and healthcare system outcomes.  There is increasing strategic focus on research capacity building in the nursing, midwifery and allied health professions (NMAHP) across the UK; however, there remains disparity in infrastructure and funding opportunities, which can limit the potential for professional enhancement and patient benefit. Work is underway in Northern Ireland involving the universities, Department of Health and health and social care organisational leads to enhance research capacity building in Nursing and Midwifery, and Juliet hopes that her honorary professorial role will give her the opportunity to contribute to these developments.

A large audience attended the lecture, including members of Juliet's family who had travelled over from Scotland and England and joined colleagues from education, health and social care and professional organisations across Northern Ireland. The Professorial Lecture focused on Juliet's experience of research capacity building in nursing, midwifery and the allied health professions (NMAHP) in NHS Lothian over the last 12 years and focused on specific initiatives that have been developed through collaboration with six academic partners across Scotland.  It also showcased some of the nurses and midwives that have benefited from the infrastructure and investment and the significant contribution they are now making to developing the evidence-based for the professions and their future potential as research leaders. 

Below are a selection of Professor MacArthur's Publications:

Hill G & MacArthur J (2022) Editorial: Recognising a watershed moment: opportunities for clinical research nursing and midwifery. Journal of Research in Nursing 27(1-2) 3–8  

McInnes, R. J., Aitken-Arbuckle, A., Lake, S., Hollins Martin, C., & MacArthur, J. (2020). Implementing continuity of midwife carer–just a friendly face? A realist evaluation. BMC Health Services Research, 20, 1-15. 

Brown, M., Higgins, A., & MacArthur, J. (2020). Transition from child to adult health services: A qualitative study of the views and experiences of families of young adults with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 29(1-2), 195-207.  

MacArthur, J., Wilkinson, H, Gray, M., Matthews-Smith, G (2017) Embedding compassionate care in local NHS practice: developing a conceptual model through realistic evaluation Journal of Research in Nursing 22 (2) 130-147  

MacArthur, J., Brown, M., McKechanie, A., Mack, S., Hayes M., Fletcher, J. (2015) Making reasonable and achievable adjustments: The contributions of Learning Disability Liaison Nurses in ‘Getting it right’ for people with learning disabilities receiving general hospitals care. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 71 (17) 1552-63