Catherine Exley

Professor Catherine Exley is a leading academic at Newcastle University specializing in palliative care, dementia research, and healthcare decision-making. Her work spans multiple disciplines including oral health, stroke care, and end-of-life services, with a strong focus on qualitative methodologies and patient-centered outcomes.

Her research interests center on:

• Patient and family decision-making in complex care scenarios (deprescribing, dental treatment, end-of-life)
• Improving care practices for people with dementia in care homes
• Development and validation of patient-reported outcome measures
• Health service commissioning and resource allocation in dental and palliative care
• Ethnographic exploration of clinical care environments

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory toward integrated care models, particularly examining how clinical decisions are shaped by patient values, professional judgments, and systemic constraints. Her work frequently addresses vulnerable populations including older adults, people with dementia, and those requiring palliative services.

Professor Exley collaborates extensively across disciplines, with frequent co-authorship alongside experts in dentistry (Chris Vernazza), palliative care (Linda Sharp), dementia research (Clare Abley), and health economics. Her methodological approach combines in-depth qualitative work with health services research to generate actionable insights for clinical practice.