Christopher Hatton

Professor Christopher Hatton is a Professor of Social Care at Manchester Metropolitan University's Department of Social Care and Social Work. He holds an Inaugural Professorial Lecture titled 'Things can’t only get better: People with learning disabilities, COVID-19 and beyond' delivered on 23 February 2022. His research focuses on systemic inequalities faced by people with learning disabilities, healthcare equity, and policy evaluation.

Biography highlights over 30 years of research tracking social and health disparities, with a career spanning roles at Lancaster University (including Co-Director of Public Health England’s Learning Disabilities Observatory), the Lancashire Clinical Psychology Programme, and the Hester Adrian Research Centre at the University of Manchester. His work emphasizes ethical research collaboration with self-advocates, families, and professionals.

Key research themes include pandemic impacts on vulnerable populations, lifespan inequalities, and service accessibility. He advocates for evidence-based policy reforms to address systemic discrimination in healthcare and social services.