Dr Bill Noble MBChB MRCGP MD

Department of Oncology
The Medical School
Beech Hill road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
UK

Telephone: +44 (0) 114 226 6760

Secretary: +44 (0) 114 271 3082
Fax: +44 (0) 114 271 3314

Email: bill.noble@sheffield.ac.uk

Biography

I trained and practiced as a GP and Hospice doctor for 14 years and have practiced Palliative Medicine since 1981.

I am currently Macmillan Senior Lecture in Palliative Medicine at the University of Sheffield. My clinical work as a physician in Palliative Medicine at the Sheffield Macmillan Unit for Palliative Care and in the community informs my research and teaching.

Research Interests

My research interests are; health service research on community palliative care, psychosocial-oncology, service evaluation, communication skills and medical interviewing, holistic needs assessment and historical research in palliative care.

Teaching Interests

My teaching interests are; advanced communication skills training, higher specialist training and research training in palliative care.

Professional Activities

I am past president of the Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland, I sit on the National Cancer Research Institute Clinical Studies Group in Palliative Care and the organising committee or the European Association of Palliative Care Research Congress.

Current Projects

Life Stories in supportive and palliative care: An oral history service for patients. £30,000 pa Funder: League of Friends, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield. December 2006 ongoing. Noble B and Winslow, M.

Developing a pathway for managing unknown primary cancer. £83,000 Funder: Macmillan. February 2008 – February 2011.Bill Noble , Philippa Hughes, David Brooks.

Transitions to palliative care for older people in acute hospitals in the UK. £448,000 Funder: NIHR. January 09 – December 2011. Merryn Gott, Christine Ingleton, Tony Ryan, Jane Seymour, Mike Bennett, Bill Noble and Mark Cobb.

Evaluation of Midhurst Real Choice Project. £150,000 Funder: Macmillan Cancer Support, Jan 2010 – Dec 2011. Bill Noble, Philippa Hughes, Peter Bath, Nigel King, Jane Melvin.

A Feasibility Study of an Holistic Needs Assessment Questionnaire Trial in a Supportive and Palliative Care Service. £150,000 Funder: Macmillan Cancer Support, Jan 2010 – July 2012. Bill Noble, Nisar Ahmed, Philippa Hughes and Peter Bath

Key Publications

1. Hughes P, Bath P, Ahmed N, Noble B (2009) What progress has been made towards implementing national guidance on end of life care? A national survey of UK general practices. Palliative Medicine

2. Winslow M, Clark D, Seymour J, Graham F, Paz S, ten Have H, Meldrum M, Noble B (2004). Changing technologies of cancer pain relief: case studies of innovation. Progress in Palliative Care 12 (3): 123-133

3. Thomas K, Noble B (2007). Improving the delivery of palliative care in general practice: an evaluation of the first phase of the Golds Standards Framework. Palliative Medicine 21:49-53

4. Winslow M, Hitchlock K, Noble B (2009). Recording lives: the benefit of an oral history service. European Journal of Palliative Care 16;3:128-130