Fiona Lucas

I have developed a special interest in headache management over several years, which began during the early part of my career, as a Senior Physiotherapist in a musculoskeletal (MSK) outpatient setting. Through clinical discussions and patient interactions, I became increasingly aware of the lack of confidence among colleagues and myself, in managing headache presentations and identifying red flags.

To address this gap, I undertook additional training, including a specialized module in headaches through the University of Edinburgh. The knowledge I gained, enabled me to deliver training sessions for NHS colleagues and subsequently, to work with Nuffield Health in Bournemouth alongside a Neurologist, supporting patients with complex headache disorders.

This experience allowed me to pursue national training initiatives within Nuffield Health, evaluating physiotherapists’ confidence and practice patterns regarding headache red flag recognition. This work culminated in a service evaluation, which I presented at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) Conference in 2019. It received an award for innovation in physiotherapy practice and was later published (Lucas, 2023).

Currently, as a lecturer in physiotherapy on the MSc (pre-registration) programme, I am passionate about embedding headache management into healthcare education. I believe this important area of clinical practice is understated in the curriculum. My current role as a First Contact Practitioner in primary care has further enriched my understanding of CDH patient journeys, revealing challenges and unmet needs in their management.

Given my academic, clinical, and educational experiences, combined with a passion for improving patient outcomes, I believe I am well-positioned to undertake this research. My goal is to generate impactful evidence that can support the development of more effective and empathetic headache care pathways within primary care.

• Running
• Paddle boarding
• Reading
• Films books and culture