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Staff Profile

Professor Andy Husband

Professor of Clinical Pharmacy/ Director Â鶹´«Ã½ NIHR PSRC

  • Email: andy.husband@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: 0191 2082360
  • Address: School of Pharmacy
    The Faculty of Medical Sciences
    King George VI Building
    Â鶹´«Ã½ upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

I am Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Director of the Â鶹´«Ã½ NIHR Patient Safety Research Collaboration. I was a pharmacist for 32 years and retired from the GPhC register in 2024. I have a background in hospital pharmacy practice and have held a range of academic posts at both the University of Sunderland and Durham University. I have experience of leading a School of Pharmacy for over 17 years and have worked with the General Pharmaceutical Council, Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and the General Optical Council on statutory accreditation and high stakes assessment as a chair and a member of the the accreditation teams and the Board of Assessors.


My research interests primarily focus on the safe and effective use of medicines and how prescribing decisions influence patient care. This currently extends into examining how medicines are discontinued when no longer appropriate and how clinical review of prescribed medicines can influence patient outcomes, including readmission to hospital. Adherence to prescribed medication is also of interest particularly in the context of how individual disease states and social backgrounds influence patients decisions to adhere to their treatments.


More recently, I have developed numerous strands of research examining how minority communities can manage their medicines safely and effectively, we are interested in how these communities are able to access healthcare services and how services are designed to address the needs of these communities.






Research

I am Director of the Â鶹´«Ã½ NIHR Patient Safety Research Collaboration. My research interests focus on the safe and effective use of medicines, including understanding the impact of polypharmacy and examining different approaches to reducing the burden of medicines for patients or constructing support mechanisms to ensure that medicines are used safely, particularly for those patients who are prescribed larger numbers of medicines resulting in polypharmacy or hyperpolypharmacy. Within this, I am also interested in understand more about the intersection between long-term diseases and polypharmacy and how particular combinations of disease and medicines conveys increased risk.


We are interesting in minoritisation and how patients experience healthcare when they are part of minority communities in the UK. Our research suggests that we do need to understand how to design healthcare interventions for different communities, rather than simply amending what already exists. We are working to understand how we need to design and deliver healthcare interventions for those people who are members of minority communities and who are also are less affluent. Recent projects include examining medicines adherence within minority communities to understand what are the key drivers that result in poor adherence to prescribed treatments.


The rational use of medicines, primarily in the hospital environment and in palliative care will continue to be part of my research portfolio. This area is focused on prescribing and deprescribing and the consequences thereof, including medicines-related readmission to hospital and the use of IT to support prescribing and decision-making. We are interested in understanding more about interventions, which will improve safe prescribing, but also ensure regular, timely review in order to improve patient outcomes. The use of medicines as patients age is a specific area of interest currently patients are prescribed a medicine and told they will need to take it of the rest of their life. What does this mean in ageing patients or those with life-limiting illness, how do patient perceive deprescribing and how can this be safely and systematically approached? These are the questions we are currently addressing within this group. 



   


Teaching

I teach on the Master of Pharmacy programme (MPharm) primarily in the area of clinical therapeutics. My main area of interest is in haematology and I also support the Stage 1 anatomy teaching. I have extensive expertise in assessment design, including the use of blueprinting and standard setting to create valid and reliable assessment tools.


I supervise Master's projects associated with the MPharm, these projects usually focus on the safe and effective use of medicines in different communities of people as well as hospital pharmacy-related topics around admission and readmission to hospital as a consequence of medicine-related issues.


At present, I lead the Integrated Report assessment at Stage 1 of the MPharm and the Literature Review assessment at Stage 3.

Publications

  • Articles

    • Stepanova E, Cooper M, Lawson L, Harris V, Rance A, Husband A, Lorencatto F, Tovey W, Crayton E, Tolley CL, Wong G, Nazar H. . BMJ Open 2026, 16(6), e112464.
    • Stepanova E, Cooper M, Robinson-Barella A, Harris V, Husband A, Wright D, Lorencatto F, Tolley C, Tovey W, Wong G, Cowie D, Parker K, Crayton E, Nazar H. . Health Expectations 2026, 29(1), e70544.
    • El Hajj MS, Robinson-Barella A, Husband A, Todd A. . PLoS ONE 2026, 21(6), e0349120.
    • Gardner A, Cooper M, Okeowo D, Kingston A, Husband A, Todd A. . Research Connections 2026, 1(2), vmag045.
    • Zied Abozied E, Munford L, Copeland A, Kasim A, Husband A, Bambra C, Todd A. . BMJ Open 2025, 15, e095540.
    • Beezer J, Clark AL, Todd A, Kingston A, Husband A. . ESC Heart Failure 2025, 12(6), 4316-4325.
    • Beezer J, Clark AL, Todd A, Kingston A, Casement J, Pages L, Husband A. . European Heart Journal - Quality of Care and Clinical Outcomes 2025, 11(7), 1070-1081.
    • Brunsdon E, Hollyfield S, Venkat SC, Kaushal A, Hamilton W, Berkman L, Rowley S, Todd A, Husband A, von Wagner C. . Health Expectations 2025, 28(5), e70411.
    • El Hajj MS, Asiri R, Husband A, Todd A. . PLoS One 2025, 5, e0322392.
    • Kavanagh ON, Ashton M, Husband AK. . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice 2025, 33(1), 88-94.
    • Alamer S, Robinson-Barellla A, Cooper M, Nazar H, Husband A. . PLoS ONE 2025, 20(2), e0318709.
    • Heed J, Heed A, Klein S, Slee A, Watson N, Husband AK, Slight SP. . Journal of Patient Safety 2025, 21(5), 309-316.
    • Robinson-Barella A, Richardson CL, Bayley Z, Husband A, Bojke R, Bojke A, Quibell R, Baker L, McDougall E, Exley C, Hanratty B, Elverson J, Jansen J, Todd A. . Palliative Medicine 2025, 39(5), 543-552.
    • Husband A, Robinson-Barella A. . BMJ Quality and Safety 2024, 33(12), 765-768.
    • Chua S, Todd A, Reeve E, Smith SM, Fox J, Elsisi Z, Hughes S, Husband A, Langford A, Merriman N, Harris JR, Devine B, Gray SL. . PLoS ONE 2024, 19(6), e0305215.
    • Robinson-Barella A, Richardson CL, Bayley Z, Husband A, Bojke A, Bojke R, Exley C, Hanratty B, Elverson J, Jansen J, Todd A. . BMC Palliative Care 2024, 23, 221.
    • Asiri R, Robinson-Barella A, Iqbal A, Todd A, Husband A. . PLoS One 2023, 18(10), e0292581.
    • Davison J, Robinson-Barella A, Davies G, Campos-Hinojosa M, Collins C, Husband A, Okeowo D, Hester KLM, Lee R, Rapley T, De Soyza A. . ERJ Open Research 2023, 9(3), 00735-2022.
    • Alamer S, Robinson-Barella A, Nazar H, Husband A. . ERJ Open Research 2023, 9(6), 00421-2023.
    • Asiri R, Todd A, Robinson-Barella A, Husband A. . PLoS ONE 2023, 18(2), e0271650.
    • McCann J, Lau WM, Husband A, Todd A, Sile L, Doll AK, Varia S, Robinson-Barella A. . Health Expectations 2023, 26(5), 1941-1953.
    • Robinson A, O'Brien N, Sile L, Guraya HK, Govind T, Harris V, Pilkington G, Todd A, Husband A. . Health Expectations 2022, 25(6), 3040-3052.
    • O'Neil H, Todd A, Pearce M, Husband A. . Practical Diabetes 2022, 39(3), 23-26a.
    • Robinson A, Husband A, Slight R, Slight SP. . JMIR Human Factors 2022, 9(1), e29782.
    • Kerrison R, Robinson A, Skrobanski H, Kayal G, Kaushal A, Ide-Walters C, Todd A, Husband A, Lakhani S, Alter M, von Wagner C, MacDonald L. . BMC Health Services Research 2022, 22, 268.
    • Heed J, Klein S, Slee A, Watson N, Husband A, Slight SP. . British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2022, 88(7), 3351-3359.
    • Serou N, Slight R, Husband A, Forrest S, Slight S. . Journal of Patient Safety 2022, 18(4), 358-364.
    • Beezer J, Roe L, Husband A. . Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research 2022, 52(2), 132-138.
    • Robinson A, Elarbi M, Todd A, Husband A. . Health Expectations 2022, 25(2), 628-638.
    • Robinson A, Sile L, Govind T, Guraya HK, O'Brien N, Harris V, Pilkington G, Todd A, Husband A. . Health Expectations 2022, 25(4), 1432-1443.
    • Nazar H, Rathbone AP, Richardson C, Livsey L, Husband AK. . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice 2021, 29(3), 277-284.
    • Nazar H, Rathbone A, Husband AK. . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice 2021, 29(3), 271–276.
    • Serou N, Slight SP, Husband AK, Forrest SP, Slight RD. . BJS Open 2021, 5(2), zraa007.
    • Serou N, Husband AK, Forrest SP, Slight RD, Slight SP. . Journal of Patient Safety 2021, 17(5), 335-340.
    • Serou N, Sahota L, Husband AK, Forrest SP, Slight RD, Slight S. . International Journal for Quality in Health Care 2021, 33(1), mzab046.
    • Robinson A, Slight RD, Husband AK, Slight S. . BJS Open 2021, 5(2), zraa009.
    • Robinson A, Slight RD, Husband AK, Slight SP. . Journal of Medical Internet Research 2021, 23(3), e25885.
    • Rathbone AP, Jamie K, Todd A, Husband A. . Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics 2021, 46(2), 352-362.
    • Robinson A, Slight R, Husband AK, Slight S. . Perioperative Medicine 2020, 9, 2.
    • Robinson A, Husband AK, Slight RD, Slight SP. . BJS Open 2020, 5(1), zraa009.
    • Robinson A, Husband AK, Slight RD, Slight SP. . JMIR Perioperative Medicine 2020, 3(2), e17320.
    • Robinson A, Oksuz U, Slight R, Slight S, Husband A. . JMIR mHealth and uHealth 2020, 8(12), e19237.
    • Nazar H, Lindsey L, Fletcher J, Rook L, Todd A, Husband A. . American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 2019, 83(7), 7106.
    • Rathbone AP, Nazar H, Harburn J, Todd A, Husband A. . American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 2019, 83(8), 7103.
    • Rathbone AP, Norris R, Parker P, Lindsley L, Robinson A, Baqir W, Campbell D, Husband A. . Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy 2019, 16(4), 503-510.
    • Nazar H, Omer U, Nazar Z, Husband A. . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice 2019, 27(3), 303-310.
    • Tolley C, Forde N, Coffey KL, Sittig DF, Ash JS, Husband AK, Bates DW, Slight S. . Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association 2018, 25(5), 575-584.
    • Serou N, Sahota L, Husband A, Forrest S, Moorthy S, Vincent C, Slight RD, Slight SP. . British Journal of Surgery Open 2017, 1(4), 106-113.
    • Serou N, Sahota L, Husband AK, Forrest S, Moorthy K, Vincent C, Slight RD, Slight S. . British Journal of Surgery Open 2017, 1(4), 106-113.
    • Todd A, Husband A, Andrew I, Pearson S, Lindsey L, Holmes H. . BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care 2017, 7(2), 113-121.
    • Lindsey L, Husband AK, Steed L, Walton R, Todd A. . Journal of Public Health 2017, 39(3), 609-615.
    • Brown CL, Reygate K, Slee A, Coleman JJ, Pontefract SK, Bates DW, Husband AK, Watson N, Slight SP. . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice 2017, 25(3), 195-202.
    • Nazar H, Obara I, Paterson A, Nazar Z, Portlock JC, Husband AK. . American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 2017, 81(2), 1-16.
    • Blagburn J, Kelly-Fatemi B, Akhter N, Husband A. . European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy 2016, 23(2), 80-85.
    • Todd A, Holmes H, Pearson S, Hughes C, Andrew I, Baker L, Husband A. . BMC Palliative Care 2016, 15(1), 13.
    • Akinbolade O, Husband A, Forrest S, Todd A. . Progress in Palliative Care 2016, 24(5), 268-271.
    • Brown TJ, Todd A, O'Malley CL, Moore HJ, Husband AK, Bambra C, Kasim A, Sniehotta FF, Steed L, Summerbell CD. . Public Health Research 2016, 4(2), 1-155.
    • Badenhorst J, Todd A, Lindsey L, Ling J, Husband A. . International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy 2015, 37(3), 465-470.
    • Nazar H, Nazar M, Rothwell C, Portlock J, Chaytor A, Husband A. . Advances in Medical Education and Practice 2015, 2015(6), 279-295.
    • Lindsey L, Husband A, Nazar H, Todd A. . Cancer Epidemiology 2015, 39(5), 673-681.
    • Rathbone AP, Husband AK, Todd A, Jamie K. . Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 2015, 69(Suppl. 1), A75-A76.
    • Todd A, Copeland A, Husband A, Kasim A, Bambra C. . BMJ Open 2015, 5(5), e007328.
    • Todd A, Copeland A, Husband A, Kasim A, Bambra C. . BMJ Open 2014, 4(8), e005764.
    • Todd A, Husband AK, Hurren A, Kler S, Ling J. . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice 2014, 22(3), 193-199.
    • Todd A, Nazar H, Pearson S, Andrew I, Baker L, Husband A. . International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy 2014, 36(3), 535-543.
    • Todd A, Moore H, Husband A, Bambra C, Kasim A, Sniehotta F, Steed L, Summerbell C. . Systematic Reviews 2014, 3, 93.
    • Todd A, Husband AK, Richardson R, Jassal N, Robson P, Andrew I. . European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy 2013, 20(2), 125-128.
    • Todd A, Williamson S, Husband AK, Baqir W, Mahony M. Patients with advanced lung cancer: Is there scope to discontinue inappropriate medication ?. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy 2012, 35(2), 181-184.

  • Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

    • Nazar H, Akhter N, Husband A. . In: Pharmacy Education Symposium. 2017, Prato, Italy.
    • Illing J, McLachlan J, Hesselgreaves H, Crampton P, Tiffin P, Carter M, Corbett S, Sawdon M, Swamy M, Ikah D, Finn GM, Swan L, Page G, Husband A, Kehoe A. . In: Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) conference. 2016, Perth, Australia: ANZAHPE.
    • Brown C, Slight SP, Husband A, Watson N, Bates D. . In: 38th Annual Meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine. 2015, Toronto, Canada: Springer.
    • Rathbone AP, Husband AK, Todd A, Jamie K. . In: 59th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Social Medicine. 2015, Dublin: BMJ Group.
    • Badenhorst J, Husband A, Ling J, Lindsey L, Todd A. . In: Royal Pharmaceutical Society Annual Conference 2014. 2014, ICC Birmingham UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  • Editorials

    • Tolley C, Husband AK. . BMJ Quality and Safety 2025, 34(12), 785-787.
    • Slight S, Husband A. . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice 2018, 26(S1), 3-3.

  • Reviews

    • Vinogradov R, Holden E, Patel M, Grigg R, Errington L, Husband A, Rankin J, Araujo-Soares V. . Health Expectations 2026, 29(3), e70703.
    • O'Neil H, Todd A, Pearce M, Husband A. . Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism 2024, 7(2), e00470.
    • Upadhyay H, Aliberti S, Husband A, Chalmers JD, Hester K, De Soyza A. . Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety 2024, 15, 1-18.
    • Tolley CL, Slight SP, Husband AK, Watson N, Bates DW. . American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy 2018, 75(4), 239-246.
    • Brown CL, Mulcaster HL, Triffitt KL, Sittig DF, Ash JS, Reygate K, Husband AK, Bates DW, Slight SP. . Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association 2017, 24(2), 432-440.
    • Rathbone AP, Todd A, Jamie K, Bonam M, Banks L, Husband AK. . Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy 2017, 13(3), 403-439.
    • Alabi A, Todd A, Husband AK, Reilly JG. . Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology 2016, 6(6), 369-381.
    • Brown TJ, Todd A, O'Malley C, Moore HJ, Husband AK, Bambra C, Kasim A, Sniehotta FF, Steed L, Smith S, Nield L, Summerbell CD. . BMJ Open 2016, 6(2), e009828.
    • Husband AK, Todd A, Fulton J. . American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 2014, 78(3), 63.