Dr Siobhan Mclernon

I am a Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing within the College of Health and Life Sciences at London South Bank University.  I am a registered adult nurse, with over 15 years of specialist experience in neurocritical care at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH NHS Trust where I cared for patients with neurological conditions.

Since joining London South Bank University, and following  completion of  my Postgraduate Certificate in Interprofessional Education, I have led the development and delivery of postgraduate continuing professional development (CPD)modules in specialist neuroscience nursing. These programmes support nurses working across neuroscience centres in London. I also contribute to the delivery and assessmnet of several underdraduate adult nursing programmes. 

I was awarded my Doctorate of Philosophy(PhD) in 2022. I also hold a Master of Science (MSc) in Neuroscience from the Insitute of Psychiatry, Kings College London.  In recognition of my contribution to higher education, I was awarded Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2016. 

My postdoctoral research focuses on stroke outcomes, awareness of stroke risk and prevention. I am especially interested in young stroke and and improving outcomes for underrepresented groups. 

My research focuses on stroke outcomes, stroke risk awareness, and stroke prevention particularly amongst underrepresented groups.  My masters research examined the surrogate marker S-100 following,exploring its potential role in predicting outcome. 
Building on this, my doctoral research investigated perceived, actual and predicted 6-month functional outcome of adult patients following spontaneous  intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) who were treated in a neurocritical care setting. This was the first UK based study to  6-month functional outcome after ICH from multiple perspectives combining an observational cohort study with qualitative interviews. 

Findings from phases of this work have been published in high-ranking international journals (Neurocritical Care and Journal of the Neurological Sciences). Both papers were rated as having 3* International Relevance in the REF2021 assessment. Importantly, this research highlighted the need for standardised clinical pathways to reduce overly-pessimistic prognostication, which may lead to less aggressive supportive care. 

To remain clinically relevant and support high quality teaching and learning, I actively engage in stroke research groups and multidisciplinary stroke forums presenting my work and discussing implications for nursing practice and stroke care. I hold a honourary contract with UCLH NHS Trust and as part of my CPD, I attend clinical practice regularly, staying up-to-date as a neuroscience nurse. This duel role strengthens my ability to integrate theory to practice.  

I am an author of a forthcoming textbook chapter titled "Management of Traumatic Brain Injury" in Accident and Emergencies: Theory into Practice, 4th Edition (in press). I have an extensive publication record in leading high-impact peer-reviewed journals with my work receiving significent citations and scholarly attention. 

I lead the Acute Aging and Longterm Conditions Reserach Group, where I drive strategic research priorities and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Post Doctoral Research 

As a member of UCL Stroke Research Centre,  my current postdoctoral work includes the ULYSSES study, a systematic evaluation study exploring lived experiences and non motor outcomes  5-8 years after young-onset stroke.

Since successful completion of my doctorate in 2022, I have experince as a Principal Investigator and completed a funded project by the Burdett Trust for Nursing entitled " A community based mixed methods project to explore understanding of stroke risk factors in people who are from BME heritage and who are aged 18-65 years". Findings showed a gap in awareness of stroke risk factors and a need for culturally sensitive stroke prevention interventions. 

I am also a Co-Investigator on the Womens inclusion in stroke education and Readiness for AI/Digital technologies(WISER-AID) study funded by The Burdett Trust for Nursing. 

My research is underpinned by strong  community engagement. I collaborate with organisations such as The Croydon BME Forum, the Asian Resource Centre Croydon and Public Health Croydon delivering community-based initiatives to raise awareness of stroke risk particularly amongst highrisk populations.

I am well recognised in the field of neuroscience nursing and this can be seen in my esteem factors which include: Judge for Nursing Times Student Nurses Awards 2022-2024; 6 articles in The Conversation with over 330,111 reads; author of illustrated clinical guides for clinicalskills.net and Consultant Editor for the British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing.

Member of  UCL Stroke Research Centre 

Consultant Editor for British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing

Panel member of CASC, school ethics and sytematic review board 

External Examiner at Queens University Belfast 

Honaray contract at UCLH NHS Foundation Trust 

Link lecturer at UCLH NHS Foundation Trust 

Lead of Acute Ageing and Long-Term Conditions Research Group

Member of the Steering Committee for the Health and Wellbeing Research Centre 

Module lead for postgraduate CPD modules:Principles of Neuroscience Nursing, Evidence Based Neuroscience Care, Neurocritical Care 

Supervisor to students studying degree, masters and doctoral studies. I also provide leadership and mentorship to support the development of research, innovation and enterprise activities.

Specialist subjects -Stroke pathophysiology and acute care, Traumatic Brain Injury, evidence based practice, research methods, applied physiology, sciences for nurses, simulated practice learning, dementia, neurological assessment, deteriorating patient and A-E assessment.