Emma Patchwood

Dr. Emma Patchwood is a Research Fellow in the Division of Psychology & Mental Health within the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at the University of Manchester. With over 15 years of experience in stroke research, she specializes in developing psychological interventions for stroke survivors, particularly through her leadership of the Wellbeing After Stroke (WAterS) program. Her current role as Co-Chief Investigator focuses on WAterS-2, a Stroke Association-funded project (SA PG 23\100010; £226k) that runs until December 2025.

Her research centers on improving psychological support services for stroke survivors through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) interventions. She has pioneered co-produced, group-based psychological support programs delivered via video calling, with specific adaptations for stroke survivors with aphasia, cognitive difficulties, and from minoritised ethnic communities. Her work emphasizes health equity, implementation science, and authentic public involvement in all research phases. She has developed freely available resources including the PRECiS outcome measure and WAterS intervention materials licensed through the University of Manchester Innovation Factory.

Dr. Patchwood's research output shows a clear progression from developing patient-centered outcome measures (PRECiS scale, 2015) through feasibility testing of ACT interventions (WAterS-1, 2019-2023) to current implementation-focused work (WAterS-2). Her publications consistently address psychological adjustment after stroke, with increasing emphasis on inclusive service design and workforce development.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Rising Star award from the World Federation for Neurorehabilitation (2020)
• Best Poster Prize from the Society for Research in Rehabilitation (2018)
• Stroke Association Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018)
• Sue Fielder prize for outstanding PhD achievement (2015)

She actively collaborates with clinical psychologists, stroke survivors, and healthcare professionals across multiple institutions including the University of Nottingham and Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust. Her current work involves training non-clinical staff (primarily Stroke Association personnel) to deliver psychological support, with strong emphasis on co-design through her Research Advisory Panel comprising stroke survivors and caregivers. She has contributed to national stroke policy through REF impact case studies and serves on the NHS England Stroke Rehabilitation Task and Finish Group.

Dr. Patchwood leads a dedicated research team including Professor Audrey Bowen (Co-Chief Investigator), Dr. Shirley Thomas (University of Nottingham), and Ann Bamford (Research Advisory Panel Chair with lived stroke experience). Her WAterS-2 Research Advisory Panel (RAP) actively guides all aspects of the research through regular meetings, ensuring authentic service user involvement.