Holly Essex
Research Fellow

Profile

Biography

Holly is a Research Fellow and midwife. She has broad research experience implementing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. She currently works in the Health Services and Policy research group and has recently worked on projects for the PREPARE programme of fast response research, for the Department of Health and Social Care. Most notably she led a large focus group study on women’s health priorities to support the Governments’ Call for Evidence for the Women’s Health Strategy.

Holly has worked on varied health topics, however, her primary interests are in women’s health, particularly during the perinatal period. She was awarded an ESRC/MRC studentship for her doctoral work, completed in 2011, during which she explored the risk factors for women having a caesarean section or an instrumental birth in the UK, using data from the Millennium Cohort study.

In 2017 Holly qualified as a midwife and she has since specialised in digital midwifery. She presently works in both a midwife and research capacity.

Qualifications

BSc Health Sciences, University of York
BSc (Hons) Midwifery
MSc Health Services Research, University of York
PhD Health Sciences, University of York

Research

Overview

Holly is an applied health services researcher has worked across a wide range of topics. She has interests in women’s health, particularly during the perinatal period.

Projects

Current Projects

Mixed Methods Evaluation of the high-volume low-complexity surgical hUb pRogrammE (MEASURE):

Previous Projects

Evaluation of Colon Capsule Endoscopy: Patient experience study (both quantitative and qualitative data collection led by Dr Essex).

Partnership for REsponsive Policy Analysis and REsearch (PREPARE) programme research:

Scoping review and stakeholder discussions on a national prevalence study for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in England
Women’s priorities for women’s health: a focus group study (led by Dr Essex)
Exploring gender differences in uptake of GP partnership roles

Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on GP wellbeing

The key components of a successful model of midwifery-led continuity of carer, without continuity at birth: findings from a qualitative implementation evaluation (co-led by Dr Essex)

An economic evaluation of Alexander Technique lessons or acupuncture sessions for patients with chronic neck pain: A randomized trial (ATLAS) (led by Dr Essex)
PROMISE: first-trimester progesterone therapy in women with a history of unexplained recurrent miscarriages - a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, international multicentre trial and economic evaluation
The London Exercise And Pregnant smokers (LEAP) trial: a randomised controlled trial of physical activity for smoking cessation in pregnancy with an economic evaluation
Cost-Effectiveness of Nicotine Patches for Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy: A Placebo Randomized Controlled Trial (SNAP) (led by Dr Essex)
Which women are at an increased risk of a caesarean section or an instrumental vaginal birth in the UK: an exploration within the Millennium Cohort Study (Dr Essex' key doctoral paper)
Mothers without Companionship During Childbirth: An Analysis within the Millennium Cohort Study (led by Dr Essex):