16/01/2026
Well done to Rebecca Tidd and Sam Hodgson on being awarded the Carol Payne Remembrance Scholarships.
Rebecca is a Speech and Language Therapist and Sam Hodgson is a Physiotherapist within our Trust.
The scholarship has been established in memory of Carol Payne, who sadly passed away in January 2024. Carol was a highly respected and much valued Specialist MSK Physiotherapist at NNUH. She was a passionate advocate for research involvement among physiotherapists and AHPs, and was extremely proactive in developing physiotherapy staff to be “research ready”.
The Carol Payne Remembrance Scholarship provides funding for 0.2 WTE protected research time within an individual’s job plan for a minimum of six months.
The aim of the funded research time is to deliver measurable outcomes, including a poster submission and presentation at a national conference, an abstract or publication in a recognised health journal, a successful NIHR or CLAC: East or NICHE scholarship application and presentation of evidence at the Research Board or the NNUH Annual Research Showcase.
Funding for the scholarship, amounting to £10,000, was generously provided through a donation from Carol’s estate by her family and match-funded by the N&N Hospitals Charity.
Julie Cooper, Head of the Norfolk & Norwich Hospitals Charity, said: “We are so grateful to have been given the opportunity to support this research scholarship in memory of Carol Payne. We are looking forward to hearing the outcomes of the funded research projects and the difference this funding will make to benefit NHS patients.”
Professor Chris Burton, Dean of the School of Health Sciences, said: “I am delighted that the School of Health Sciences will be supporting Becky and Sam with their important and innovative work. Both projects will make significant contributions to allied health professional practice at NNUH and beyond, and have the potential to improve patient outcomes. In this way, they are exemplary of the legacy of Carol Payne which we celebrate through this scholarship programme.”
Rebecca’s research project is titled “What is the role of music-based group therapy interventions for patients with neurogenic communication impairments in the acute inpatient setting?”
Neurogenic communication impairments, such as post-stroke aphasia, can limit a person’s ability to understand and express language. This can affect their ability to participate in therapy sessions and negatively impact emotional wellbeing.
Group singing has the potential to support post-stroke language recovery and reduce social isolation while patients remain on the ward. While research exists to support community choirs and sub-acute rehabilitation, acute inpatient rehabilitation remains under-researched.
As part of this project, Rebecca aims to explore the role of ward-based singing groups for patients with communication difficulties by reviewing the current evidence base. She also hopes to gather information and data on the prevalence of inpatient singing groups across the region.
Sam’s research project aims to reduce the incidence of Stroke Associated Pneumonia by implementing a physiotherapy-led, semi-individualised positioning programme for stroke patients identified as being at high risk.
This intervention will take place within four hours of admission and continue for between one and four weeks post-stroke. Initially, the funding will be used to critically review the existing evidence base, as well as national and local data, prior to evaluating an initial implementation project.
Depending on the outcomes, the longer-term plan is to develop the project collaboratively within the wider multidisciplinary team, involving families and carers and expanding the inclusion criteria.
Celia Whitehouse, Therapeutic Services Research Lead, congratulated Becky and Sam on their success and said: “Investing in therapeutic services research capacity and capability will lead to a workforce that is increasingly research experienced and research active. This supports the NHS People Promise of ‘Always learning’, enhances patient safety and contributes to positive health outcomes. It also promotes recognition of AHP staff through acknowledgement of their contributions to research at NNUH, within academic literature and across healthcare.”
