Professor Catherine Evans PhD, MSc, BSc (hons), RGN, SPQDN
Interim Director of Cicely Saunders Institute and Professor of Palliative Care
- Honorary Nurse Consultant, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Research interests
- Ageing
- Palliative care
Biography
Catherine Evans is Interim Director of Cicely Saunders Institute, Professor in Palliative Care and Honorary Nurse Consultant.
She has since 2011 held a joint post between the Cicely Saunders Institute at King’s College London and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust. She has pursued a successful clinical-academic career as a nurse securing NIHR personal fellowships on the integrated clinical academic programme. Catherine’s clinical background is in palliative care and district nursing.
Catherine leads a programme of research on new models of care to strengthen the integration of palliative care in community healthcare and social care for older adults with multimorbidity, including dementia and frailty. Catherine co-leads a major research programme on Empowering Better End of Life Dementia Care (EMBED-Care), and the CovPall_CareHome study on the care home response to meet palliative care needs during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Her research is supported by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London palliative and end of life care theme, and NIHR ARC Kent, Surrey and Sussex dementia theme.
Catherine is a co-applicant and member of the senior management group for the NIHR Research Design Service, South East. Her role focuses on strengthening collaborations between HEIs and the NHS and building research capability in the region. She is also a member of the Ageing Research at King's (ARK) Advisory Board.
Full details of Catherine’s publications, research grants and PhD students are available on her KCL Pure Research Profile.
Research profile
Research
Adapting Pulmonary Rehabilitation for People Living with COPD & Frailty
People with COPD and frailty can benefit from, yet face trouble completing pulmonary rehabilitation. BreathePlus will develop and test a new adapted approach.
Project status: Ongoing
Understanding Why People With Dementia Attend the Emergency Department Towards the End of Life
A mixed-methods study examining the determinants of emergency department attendance by people with dementia towards the end of life.
Project status: Completed
Optimising Palliative Care for Older People in Community Settings
OPTCare Elderly aimed to improve the quality of life for older people by developing a new short-term integrated palliative and supportive care service.
Project status: Completed
Managing Care for Adults During Clinical Uncertainty in Community Hospitals
Development and feasibility evaluation of a new Symptom & Psychosocial Assessment & Communication Evaluation (SPACE) tool.
Project status: Ongoing
Empowering Better End of Life Dementia Care
Empowering Better End of Life Dementia Care (EMBED-Care) is a joint programme between King’s College London and University College London.
Project status: Ongoing
Methods for Researching End of Life Care - Processes of consent
Methods for Researching End of Life Care (MORECare) is developing best practice guidance and processes of consent for adults lacking capacity.
Project status: Completed
Integrated Community Palliative Partnership
The Integrated Community Palliative Partnership (ICPP) is a study that aims to develop a model of community palliative partnership working in care homes.
Project status: Ongoing
International Access Rights & Empowerment II
IARE II is an observational study of frail older people who do not have access to specialist palliative care services.
Project status: Ongoing
CovPall Care Homes: Rapid Evaluation of the Care Home Response to the Need for Palliative & End of Life Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
This CovPall Care Homes Project looks at integration, communication and workforce resilience in Care Homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Project status: Completed
Adapting Pulmonary Rehabilitation for People Living with COPD & Frailty
People with COPD and frailty can benefit from, yet face trouble completing pulmonary rehabilitation. BreathePlus will develop and test a new adapted approach.
Project status: Ongoing
News
Palliative Care in Crisis: Cicely Saunders Institute supports call for improved palliative care
The Government must address the inequities in provision and access to palliative care.
Dementia Journeys arrives at London Bridge Station
Empowering Better End of-Life Dementia Care (EMBED-Care) research programme takes Dementia Journeys to London Bridge Station.
Cicely Saunders Institute publishes its triennial report
Find out how Cicely Saunders Institute has been making a difference in palliative care during the period 2020-2023.
New Director of Cicely Saunders Institute appointed
Professor Catherine Evans to assume new role from 2 September 2024.
King's receives NIHR award to support research careers for student nurses, midwives and health professionals
Nurses, midwives, allied and other health professionals across south London will be supported into research careers as part of INSIGHT: Inspiring students...
Addressing unequal access to dementia care
EMPOWER Dementia Network Plus aims to meet a growing need now and in the future for high-quality dementia care for all.
Essential role of care home staff often overlooked during the pandemic
During the pandemic, care home staff played an essential role in the delivery of high-quality palliative and end-of-life care.
Deputy Director of King's Clinical Academic Training Office (KCATO) appointed
Professor Catherine Evans will join as the second Deputy Director of the KCATO.
New research highlights need for greater integration of palliative care in community hospital settings
Findings from the first national study in England to examine the characteristics and mortality rates of patients in community hospitals.
Events
NMPC Inaugural Lecture: Professor Katherine Sleeman & Professor Catherine Evans
NMPC Inaugural Lecture: Professor Katherine Sleeman & Professor Catherine Evans
Please note: this event has passed.
Catherine co-leads the module on 'Service Development and Policy'Supervision of post-graduate research students on palliative and end of life care in community and social care settings for adults with multiple conditions, including dementia and frailty.
Research
Adapting Pulmonary Rehabilitation for People Living with COPD & Frailty
People with COPD and frailty can benefit from, yet face trouble completing pulmonary rehabilitation. BreathePlus will develop and test a new adapted approach.
Project status: Ongoing
Understanding Why People With Dementia Attend the Emergency Department Towards the End of Life
A mixed-methods study examining the determinants of emergency department attendance by people with dementia towards the end of life.
Project status: Completed
Optimising Palliative Care for Older People in Community Settings
OPTCare Elderly aimed to improve the quality of life for older people by developing a new short-term integrated palliative and supportive care service.
Project status: Completed
Managing Care for Adults During Clinical Uncertainty in Community Hospitals
Development and feasibility evaluation of a new Symptom & Psychosocial Assessment & Communication Evaluation (SPACE) tool.
Project status: Ongoing
Empowering Better End of Life Dementia Care
Empowering Better End of Life Dementia Care (EMBED-Care) is a joint programme between King’s College London and University College London.
Project status: Ongoing
Methods for Researching End of Life Care - Processes of consent
Methods for Researching End of Life Care (MORECare) is developing best practice guidance and processes of consent for adults lacking capacity.
Project status: Completed
Integrated Community Palliative Partnership
The Integrated Community Palliative Partnership (ICPP) is a study that aims to develop a model of community palliative partnership working in care homes.
Project status: Ongoing
International Access Rights & Empowerment II
IARE II is an observational study of frail older people who do not have access to specialist palliative care services.
Project status: Ongoing
CovPall Care Homes: Rapid Evaluation of the Care Home Response to the Need for Palliative & End of Life Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
This CovPall Care Homes Project looks at integration, communication and workforce resilience in Care Homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Project status: Completed
Adapting Pulmonary Rehabilitation for People Living with COPD & Frailty
People with COPD and frailty can benefit from, yet face trouble completing pulmonary rehabilitation. BreathePlus will develop and test a new adapted approach.
Project status: Ongoing
News
Palliative Care in Crisis: Cicely Saunders Institute supports call for improved palliative care
The Government must address the inequities in provision and access to palliative care.
Dementia Journeys arrives at London Bridge Station
Empowering Better End of-Life Dementia Care (EMBED-Care) research programme takes Dementia Journeys to London Bridge Station.
Cicely Saunders Institute publishes its triennial report
Find out how Cicely Saunders Institute has been making a difference in palliative care during the period 2020-2023.
New Director of Cicely Saunders Institute appointed
Professor Catherine Evans to assume new role from 2 September 2024.
King's receives NIHR award to support research careers for student nurses, midwives and health professionals
Nurses, midwives, allied and other health professionals across south London will be supported into research careers as part of INSIGHT: Inspiring students...
Addressing unequal access to dementia care
EMPOWER Dementia Network Plus aims to meet a growing need now and in the future for high-quality dementia care for all.
Essential role of care home staff often overlooked during the pandemic
During the pandemic, care home staff played an essential role in the delivery of high-quality palliative and end-of-life care.
Deputy Director of King's Clinical Academic Training Office (KCATO) appointed
Professor Catherine Evans will join as the second Deputy Director of the KCATO.
New research highlights need for greater integration of palliative care in community hospital settings
Findings from the first national study in England to examine the characteristics and mortality rates of patients in community hospitals.
Events
NMPC Inaugural Lecture: Professor Katherine Sleeman & Professor Catherine Evans
NMPC Inaugural Lecture: Professor Katherine Sleeman & Professor Catherine Evans
Please note: this event has passed.
Catherine co-leads the module on 'Service Development and Policy'Supervision of post-graduate research students on palliative and end of life care in community and social care settings for adults with multiple conditions, including dementia and frailty.