Alison is a graduate in Russian who ran international development projects in countries most affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Her career was cut short when she was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after her colleagues were killed in the course of her work. The consequences included homelessness, multiple admissions to hospital, and identity loss. She now advises NHS and social care organisations on how to work in equal partnership with citizens.
She speaks at conferences, teaches, trains, and writes. Her particular interests lie in examining the power imbalances inherent in much of what is labelled "patient/public engagement", and why more radical concepts such as genuine co-production often end up being co-opted and diluted by “the system”.
She writes her reflections on her experiences, and her thoughts on challenging issues in health and care in her regular blog https://allywritesblog.wordpress.com.