Dr Alison Twycross

Dr Alison Twycross is an experienced academic nurse, researcher and healthcare leader with a career spanning more than four decades. She has made significant contributions to nursing education, research and clinical practice, particularly in the field of paediatric pain management. She holds a PhD in nursing and has held senior academic leadership roles, including Head of Department and Deputy Dean, where she led curriculum development, championed evidence-based practice and supported the development of early-career clinicians and academics.

Alison is the Chair and founder of Supporting Healthcare Heroes UK (SHH-UK), a registered charity established to support healthcare workers living with Long Covid. In this role, she provides strategic leadership across peer support, research dissemination, fundraising and policy engagement, ensuring that the experiences of affected healthcare workers inform national conversations on workforce wellbeing, patient safety and prevention.

In recent years, Alison has become a leading advocate for healthcare workers affected by Long Covid. Drawing on her academic expertise and charity leadership, she works with professional bodies, policymakers and partner organisations to improve recognition, support and prevention-focused responses to the ongoing health impacts of Covid-19 on the healthcare workforce. She also contributes to public and professional debate on the importance of safe working environments, including effective infection prevention and control measures.

Her research has also been instrumental in improving methods of pain assessment and management and influencing clinical guidelines and policy. A prolific author and sought-after speaker, Alison’s commitment to advancing healthcare through research, education and advocacy inspires professionals around the world.