Dr Abi Hall is a physiotherapist and researcher focused on improving care for older people. She is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Exeter and AHP Faculty Lead, NHS Devon. She’s currently working on projects around intermediate care, community physiotherapy, and understanding the development needs of AHP support workers. Abi posts on X: @abijhall
When you think of a researcher, who do you picture? A scientist in a lab, maybe? Someone in a university, surrounded by books? For a lot of allied health professionals (AHPs), research can feel like it’s something other people do—something for the academics, not for those of us working in health and care services.
But here’s the thing: research isn’t just for academics. And it shouldn’t be.
AHPs are in a brilliant position to lead research that makes a difference, especially when it comes to improving care for older people. We’re the ones working alongside patients and their families, seeing first-hand the challenges they face and what could make things better. We spot the gaps, the things that aren’t quite working, and the opportunities for change. And research gives us a way to turn those insights into evidence that can shape services, improve outcomes, and influence policy.
Still, I get why it doesn’t always feel like research is ‘for us.’ I didn’t set out to become a researcher. Like many AHPs, I was focused on providing good care, making sure my patients were supported. Research felt like a world away—something that belonged in journals rather than in day-to-day practice. But over time, I realised that if I wanted to make a bigger impact—beyond individual patients—I needed to get involved in research.
It wasn’t an easy step. There are a lot of myths about what research involves. I used to think you had to be ‘academic enough’ or have endless time and funding to get started. But research doesn’t have to mean big clinical trials or complex methodologies. It can start with small questions: Why do we do it this way? Could we do this better? Sometimes, it’s those small service evaluations or quality improvement projects that lead to bigger things.
For me, it started with a curiosity about how we could deliver better rehabilitation for older people. That curiosity led to projects looking at proactive rehab in community and intermediate care settings, and more recently, digital solutions like telehealth and remote monitoring—things that could help tackle workforce shortages and meet the growing demand for community physiotherapy. I’m also currently exploring how AHP support workers contribute to care and what development opportunities they need to strengthen their role in community rehabilitation teams. My involvement with NHS England on intermediate care initiatives and, unexpectedly, being awarded the British Geriatrics Society’s Rising Star award are outcomes I would never have predicted when I first started. None of this was planned, but all of it started with a few simple questions.
And that’s the point—AHP-led research matters because it’s grounded in the realities of care. We’re dealing with the complexity of older people’s needs every day. It’s not just about treating conditions; it’s about supporting independence, keeping people moving, and helping them stay where they want to be—at home. Research allows us to test new approaches, develop evidence-based interventions, and make sure services are fit for purpose.
It also lets us address the big workforce questions. How do we make community rehabilitation sustainable when there’s a shortage of physiotherapists? How can digital solutions support what we do? And crucially, how do we develop and support AHP support workers so that their skills are used where they’re most needed? These are the questions I’m tackling in my current projects, and they’re questions that more AHPs should be exploring through research.
If you’re wondering where to start, my advice is: don’t overthink it. Start small. Get curious. Collaborate. There are universities looking for clinical partners, trusts with research support, and plenty of people ready to share their experiences. Research isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about being willing to look for them.
AHPs already make a huge difference in the lives of older people. By stepping into research, we can make a difference to the future of their care too.
Register to attend the BGS Spring Meeting 2025 to see Abi's talk at 14:15 in Stream 1 on Wednesday 9 April.
