2025 Early-career Researchers talks: Bethan Hickey – Improving Access to Physical Health Care for Older People in Mental Health Settings: The ImPreSs-Care Study
19/11/2025
Bethan is a second-year PhD student at the University of Leicester. She holds a BSc in Dance Science and Performance and an MSc in Psychology, which underpins her research on developing physical activity interventions for older people in mental health inpatient units. For the past three years, she has worked as a Research Assistant with Dr Lucy Beishon on the ImPreSs-Care study at Age UK Leicester Shire and Rutland and the University of Leicester. This project grant is funded by the Vivensa Foundation and focuses on improving access to physical health care for older people in mental health settings. Bethan will be sharing insights from this work today.
Bethan Hickey, University of Leicester
This talk explores the challenges of delivering physical healthcare for older people with serious mental ill-health within mental health settings. Focusing on patients aged over 65 with dementia and psychiatric disorders, the study draws on interviews with staff, patients, and carers across two mental health hospitals to identify key facilitators and barriers to integrated care. The findings highlight the value of multidisciplinary working to identify and support patients with complex physical health needs, alongside concerns about a gradual loss of physical health skills and confidence among mental health professionals. Limited access to senior physical health leadership was seen to contribute to reactive care and potentially avoidable acute hospital admissions. The talk discusses how improved training, proactive physical health expertise, and better support for advanced care planning, end-of-life care, and polypharmacy management could strengthen physical healthcare delivery in mental health settings and reduce unnecessary hospital transfers.
Watch the recording
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Meet the speakers
Bethan Hickey
Bethan is a second-year PhD student at the University of Leicester. She holds a BSc in Dance Science and Performance and an MSc in Psychology, which underpins her research on developing physical activity interventions for older people in mental health inpatient units. For the past three years, she has worked as a Research Assistant with Dr Lucy Beishon on the ImPreSs-Care study at Age UK Leicester Shire and Rutland and the University of Leicester. This project grant is funded by the Vivensa Foundation and focuses on improving access to physical health care for older people in mental health settings. Bethan will be sharing insights from this work today.