Staff profile

Dr Gerri Mortimore


Associate Professor in Post-registration Health Care

Gerri standing in front of a desk with a microphone on, smiling wearing a yellow dress

Subject

Nursing

College

College of Health, Psychology and Social Care

Department

School of Nursing and Midwifery

ORCiD ID

0000-0001-6890-4346

Campus

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Email

G.Mortimore@derby.ac.uk

About

I am a Registered General Nurse with over 39 years of experience, spanning both acute medical and surgical nursing within the UK and abroad. This has given me a unique perspective which has been applied to various settings, including medical and nursing research and audit leading to numerous publications and citations in medical, nursing and prescribing journals.

For the last seven years, I have worked in an academic role as a postgraduate lecturer in Advanced Practice, teaching advanced practice skills and evidenced-based medicine to allied health professionals, and now an Associate Professor in Post-registration Health Care. Prior to this, I worked as the Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist in Hepatology and set up nurse-led clinics in alcohol/fatty liver/autoimmune liver disease/viral hepatitis and haemochromatosis. In addition, I organised surveillance for all cirrhotic liver patients, in line with NICE Guidance, and set up a nurse-led paracentesis service.

Teaching responsibilities

Module lead:

 Teach on: 

Professional interests

In 2015, my general expertise in liver disease was recognised by the National Institute of Clinical Care and Health Excellence (NICE) and I was given the title of NICE expert, due to my input into published national guidelines for England and Wales on Alcohol Misuse Disorders (NICE 2010), Gallstone disease (NICE 2014) and Liver Cirrhosis (2016) as well as being involved in writing quality standards (QS) which set out the priority areas for quality improvement for health and social care and cover areas where there is a variation in care. I was involved in the development of QS’s in Gallstone disease (NICE QS 104, 2016) and Liver disease (NICE QS 152, 2017). These developed guidelines and Quality Standards clearly demonstrate that I have directly impacted on the outcomes of services being developed and delivered for best practice in patient care nationally.

More recently I have been working in close association with the Haemochromatosis Society – Haemochromatosis UK and have been invited as a guest of the Haemochromatosis Society to attend an event in the House of Commons in October 2018 to increase awareness of Genetic Haemochromatosis. This invite is an acknowledgement of my interest and continued contribution to raising awareness of this condition.

In 2020, my co-author and I, in collaboration with Haemochromatosis UK, a national charity, published the Venesection Best Practice Guideline (VBPG). This guideline has assisted in standardising the care of thousands of UK patients undergoing venesection every year not just for haemochromatosis but polycythaemia; primary and secondary, and transfusion-related iron overload. The VBPG, was endorsed by Royal College of Nursing (RCN), signifying that it conforms to the RCN quality criteria for professional standards and is deemed suitable for national UK nursing practice (RCN, 2020). Moreover, the VBPG project won awards from two major organisations, the Patient Safety Learning and The Patient’s Association, working for the wellbeing of hospital patients. This publication culminated with my co-author and I, winning the prestigious British Journal of Nursing, Nurse of the Year Award in 2021, nominated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The guideline is available from all RCN libraries and most academic and public libraries within the UK and Republic of Ireland. It is freely available to all health care workers and patients worldwide, by being distributed through a global organisation in Amazon. This impact clearly evidences how this work is advancing health professionals’ knowledge within a national and international arena.

In continuing recognition of my professional standing, I have been invited to present at numerous national conferences over the last ten years. Since 2018, I have spoken at fifteen conferences and ten General practitioner webinars, disseminating, informing, and increasing health professionals’ knowledge in liver disease and advanced clinical practice. The most recent was in January 2022, where delivered a 40-minute presentation at the 9th National Nursing Gastrointestinal Conference, regarding autoimmune liver disease and chaired the morning sessions. Since 2006 I have presented eighteen posters along with my co-authors to disseminate research findings at international and national medical conferences.

Other professional responsibilities:

Research interests

With regards to research, over the years I have undertaken many pharmaceutical clinical research trials as well as 'in-house' research (see publication list below). My research interest is in hepatology and I continue to be very active in that field, with article publications.

About my PhD Research 

In June 2021, I successfully defended my doctoral thesis.

Over the last 40 years, the UK has witnessed an exponential increase in liver disease mortality of over 400%, whereas death rates from other medical conditions have decreased. Liver disease is recognised as the fifth leading cause of death worldwide and within the United Kingdom, it is the third most common cause of premature death in the under 65-year age group. NHS Trusts across the country are dealing with escalating numbers of patients with complex liver-related morbidity and mortality thus making the nursing and medical care in treating and caring for patients challenging.

The complex nature of liver disease highlights the requirement of advancing health care professionals’ knowledge on this subject; its causes, complications, treatment and end-of-life care, to improve the quality of care provided to patients and carers.

This critical narrative will reflect upon the impact of research on my academic journey from a student nurse to the present day and will be underpinned by Pat Benner’s five-stage theoretical framework (1984). It will evidence how I have evolved through Benner’s stages; from a novice nurse and researcher; inexperienced regarding my research contribution, to the present, where I consider how I have not only evolved through Benner’s five stages but surpass them, by evolving into an advanced expert nurse, researcher and academic, to an internationally recognised researcher and policy influencer within the field of hepatology. 

My narrative examined n=20 of my publications and other clinically relevant contributions since 2006, which evidences the development and dissemination of my research, demonstrating how I have advanced health professionals' knowledge of liver disease by informing and influencing local, national and international policy to improve or even transform lives for the better.

Thesis title 

Advancing Health Professionals’ knowledge of the liver disease.

Membership of professional bodies

Qualifications

Recent conferences

Conference Presentations

Key-note lectures/presentations

2022

May: Derbyshire Advanced Practice Conference: ‘Stronger together'

Invited to give a 45-minute presentation on how to plan and write for publication

January: 9th Gastrointestinal Nursing Conference

40-minute keynote on autoimmune liver diseases and chaired the morning sessions.

2021

14 June: HPSC Research Seminar lecture

genetic haemochromatosis and PhD-related research held at the University of Derby

2020

January: 7th National Gastrointestinal Conference on haemochromatosis, diagnosis, treatment and long-term management

Disseminating findings qualitative study in living with haemochromatosis 

June: University Research and Knowledge Exchange Conference at the University of Derby

Presented at the University of Derby’s University Research and Knowledge Exchange Conference regarding my ongoing research into genetic haemochromatosis (Mortimore and Woodward, 2019) including the findings from the draft Freedom of Information report (Mortimore and McClements, 2020a) presented to Parliament in February 2020

November: Integrated Urgent Care (IUC) Celebration Event

Presented at a celebration event Integrated Urgent Care (IUC) to showcase the advantages of pharmacists working in Integrated Urgent Care, hosted by the University of Derby in partnership with Health Education England (HEE) and NHS England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This gave me the opportunity to discuss with the delegates the opportunities of advanced practice roles could allow them to achieve expert status (Benner, 1984) and the possibility of exceeding this level of attainment.

December: Addressed Eisai’s UK and Republic of Ireland medical team, to discuss issues facing the NHS and patients regarding the Covid-19 pandemic

August 2020 to November 2021: Delivering live webinars to GPs

My expertise regarding Haemochromatosis led to an invitation from HUK, to deliver live webinars to GPs on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of haemochromatosis, as well as informing GPs of patient experiences from the Mortimore and Woodward, (2019) study. My first webinar was in August 2020, to a Liverpool CCG with two more delivered in October and December 2020, then every two months in 2021.

2019

February: 6th Annual Gastrointestinal Nursing Conference, London

Presentation on social risk factors for liver disease. Chaired the afternoon sessions

March: Urgent Primary and Community Care Conference: Pride Park, Derby

Presented to community nurses on liver disease presentations and red flags

April: Venesection Best Practice Study Day, Coventry

Presented findings from a small cohort study on genetic haemochromatosis and gathered data for venesection best practice guidelines

Venesection Best Practice Study Day, Coventry

The second presentation to patients: applying best practice; the venesection clinics of the future

2018

January: University of Derby Open Evening Presentation

Dry January: the damaging effects of alcohol on your liver.

January: 5th National Gastrointestinal Nursing Conference, London

A 40-minute presentation on ascites, drainage and management.

May: Video presentation for Dying Matters Week

“Penny’s Plan: dying matters, what can we do

June: Regional Student Nurse Conference. University of Derby

Leadership in nursing: default not design. 

November: Study Day for allied health professionals and patients hosted by the Haemochromatosis UK

Sharing BEST Practice. Presented 45 minutes Patient information Day – sharing best practice

In the media

My blog posts for the University of Derby

BBC Radio interviews

BBC News interview regarding Sober October (5mins), 1 October 2019

BBC Radio Derby news interview regarding 6 million pounds Government monies for children with parents who are alcohol dependent (5 minutes), 21 April 2018

BBC Radio Derby Morning Breakfast show interview regarding Dry January (6 minutes), 17 January 2018

Podcasts

Podcast for the Gastrointestinal Nursing journal on hemochromatosis, May 2021 

Recent publications

Read, H., Mortimore, G. (2022). Acute onset low back pain leading to a diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome, Practice Nursing 33 (2), 2-7

Mortimore, G. (2021/2022). New Year, New lifestyle (editorial), Gastrointestinal Nursing 19 (supp 10), S3

Farrington, L., Mortimore, G. (2021). Chronic limb ischaemia: case study and clinical literature review, British Journal of Nursing 30 (14), 846-851

Gonzanga, E. R., Guiance, I.R., Henriquez, R., Mortimore, G., Freeman, J., (2021). The Role of the Liver in Iron Homeostasis and What Goes Wrong?, Journal of Renal and Hepatic Disorders 5 (2), 26-33 (open access)

Mortimore, G., Woodward, A. (2021). Genetic hemochromatosis: A common disorder but are General Practitioners still unaware? A qualitative study, Journal of Hepatology. 75, S679-S680 Impact factor 25.083

Mortimore, G., Reynolds, J., Forman, D., Brannigan, C., Mitchell, K. (2021). From expert to advanced clinical practitioner and beyond, British Journal of Nursing 30 (11), 656-659

Reynolds, J., Mortimore, G., (2021). Clinical supervision for advanced practitioners, British Journal of Nursing 30 (7), 422-424

Dexter, J., Mortimore, G. (2021). The management of urinary tract infections in older patients within an urgent care out-of-hours setting, British Journal of Nursing 30 (6), 334-342

Reynolds, J., Mortimore, G. (2021). Transitioning to an ACP: a challenging journey with tribulations and rewards, British Journal of Nursing 30 (3), 166-166

Reynolds, J., Mortimore, G. (2021). The ascent to advanced practice: challenges, support and opportunities, British Journal of Nursing 30 (2), 106-108

Mortimore, G., Mc Clements, N., (2020). The State of the Nation (FOI report)

Boyer, H., Mortimore, G. (2020). Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis: a guide and case study, British Journal of Nursing 29 (22), 1333-1340

Dexter, J., Mortimore, G. (2020). Recognition and management of sepsis in the urgent care out-of-hours setting, Practice Nursing 31 (7), 282-288

Toplis, E., Mortimore, G. (2020). Acute liver failure in paracetamol overdose: management, transplantation and best practice, Gastrointestinal Nursing 18 (Sup 6), S34- S39

Murphy, K., Mortimore, G. (2021). Overcoming the challenges of role transition for trainee advanced clinical practitioners, Gastrointestinal Nursing 18 (5), 35-41

Dexter, J., Mortimore, G. (2020). Bronchiolitis: treatment and management in an urgent out-of-hours care setting, Practice Nursing 31 (6), 246-253

Bailey, R., Mortimore, G. (2021). Orthostatic hypotension: clinical review and case study, British Journal of Nursing 29 (9), 506-511

Dexter, J., Mortimore, G. (2020). Delayed prescribing of antibiotics for self-limiting respiratory tract infections in an urgent care out-of-hours setting, Journal of Prescribing Practice 2 (3), 130-135

Hudson, C., Mortimore, G. (2020). The diagnosis and management of a patient with acute pyelonephritis, British Journal of Nursing 29 (3), 144-150

Francis, Y., Mortimore, G., McClements, N., Johnson, M. (2020). Venesection Best Practice Guidelines, Haemochromatosis UK

Toplis, E., Mortimore, G. (2019). The diagnosis and management of pulmonary embolism, British Journal of Nursing 29 (1), 22-26

Mortimore, G. (2019). Nutrition and malnutrition in liver disease: an overview. Gastrointestinal Nursing 17 (Sup6), S10-S11, Prescribing Practice Journal, December/January Liver Supplement, Practice Nursing, December/January Liver Supplement

Mortimore, G. (2019). Primary biliary cholangitis: an update on treatment, Gastrointestinal Nursing 17 (Sup6), S14-S16

Mortimore, G., Mayes, J.P (2019). Abdominal ultrasound scans for diagnostic imaging of the liver, Gastrointestinal Nursing 17 (Sup6), S30-S35

Redfern, V., Mortimore, G. (2019). Right hypochondrial pain leading to a diagnosis of cholestatic jaundice and cholecystitis: a review and case study, Gastrointestinal Nursing 17 (5), 32-41

Parker, E., Mortimore, G. (2019). Ludwig’s angina: a multidisciplinary concern, British Journal of Nursing 28 (9), 547-551

Watson, S., Mortimore, G. (2018). Dying from liver disease: the importance of end-of-life discussions, Gastrointestinal Nursing 16 (Sup10), S37-S42

Mortimore, G. (2018). Management of ascites in patients with liver disease, Nursing Times 114 (10), 36-40

Lewis, R., Mortimore, G., (2018). Role of the consultant pharmacist in clinical practice, Prescriber 29 (8), 19-22

Mortimore, G. (2018). Celebrating 70 years of nursing in an evolving NHS, Gastrointestinal Nursing 16 (6), 18-20

Mortimore, G. (2018). Primary biliary cholangitis: what's in a name?, Gastrointestinal Nursing 16 (5), S3-S3

Mortimore, G. (2018). Gallbladder cancer: nursing role in end-of-life care, Gastrointestinal Nursing 16 (5), S10-S11

Mortimore, G. (2018). 'Comment: We may unknowingly consume dangerous levels of alcohol.', Nursing Times, 31 May 2018

Reynolds, J., Mortimore, G. (2018). Advanced nurse practitioners: the NHS England framework, Gastrointestinal Nursing 16 (2), 14-17

Mortimore, G. (2017). Genetic haemochromatosis: diagnosing and treating hereditary iron overload, Gastrointestinal Nursing 15 (Sup10), S16-S21, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: a premalignant condition

G Mortimore (2017). Gastrointestinal Nursing 15 (8), 26-33

Mortimore, G. (2017). Primary Biliary Cholangitis: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Gastrointestinal Nursing, 15(Sup5), pp. S12-S17, Doi: 10.12968/gasn.2017.15.sup5.s12

National Institute of Health and Care Excellence [NICE], (2017) Liver disease. Quality standard [QS152]

Mortimore, G. (2017) “Christmas health warnings go down like a sack of coal”, Gastrointestinal Nursing, 15(Sup10), pp. S3-S3. Doi:10.12968/gasn.2017.15.sup10.s3

Mortimore, G. (2016) FibroScan: assessing cirrhosis and advanced fibrosis with vibration-controlled transient elastography Gastrointestinal Nursing 14 (Sup10), S10-S15

Rye, K., Mortimore, G., Austin, A., Freeman, J. (2016). Non-invasive Diagnosis of Oesophageal Varices Using Systemic Haemodynamic Measurements by Finometry: Comparison with Other Non-invasive Predictive Scores, Journal of clinical and experimental hepatology 6 (3), 195-202

National Institute of Health and Care Excellence [NICE], (2016) Cirrhosis in the over 16's: assessment and management. Clinical guideline [CG50]

Mortimore, G. (2016). Advanced liver training: where are the courses?, Gastrointestinal Nursing 16 (6), 16 - 18

National Institute of Health and Care Excellence [NICE], (2015a) Gallstone disease: diagnosis and management. Clinical guideline [CG188]

Freeman, J.G., Rye, K., Mortimore, G., Austin, A. (2015). Non-invasive measurement of systemic haemodynamics by finometry in patients with cirrhosis, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Open Access, 2(1): 00025

Grant, C., Rye, K., Scott, R., White, J., Mortimore, G., Freeman, J.G., Austin, A. (2014). P37 identifying cirrhotics at risk of paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction (PICD): The significance of an early fall in stroke volume, Journal of Hepatology. 60 (1): S79. 1. DOI: 10.1016/S0168-8278(14)60200-2

Grant, C.J., Scott, R.A., Mortimore G.M., Austin, A.S. (2013). Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of single-dose iron infusion in clinical practice, Gut 62, A30

Rye, K., Scott, R., Mortimore, G., Lawson, A., Austin, A. and Freeman, J. (2012). Towards Non-invasive Detection of Oesophageal Varices, International Journal of Hepatology pp 1-9

G Mortimore (2012). Case study—primary sclerosing cholangitis, Gastrointestinal Nursing

R Scott, J White, G Atwal, N Taylor, G Mortimore, J Freeman, A Lawson, ... (2011). P35 Long-term remission is achievable in autoimmune hepatitis using Tacrolimus or Mycophenolate mofetil and results in regression of fibrosis, Gut 60 (Suppl 2), A16-A17 Impact factor: 20.06

Rye, K., Mortimore, G., Austin, A., Freeman, J. (2011). P24 Presence of impaired baroreceptor sensitivity is a poor prognostic marker in cirrhosis, Gut 60 (Suppl 2), A11-A11 Impact factor: 20.06

White, J.R., Scott, R., Mortimore, G., Lawson, A., Freeman, J., Austin, A. (2011). Do H63D homozygote patients have clinically significant iron overload?, Gut 60 (Suppl 1), A249-A250 Impact factor: 20.06

Rye, K., Mortimore, G., Austin, A., Freeman, J. (2011). Non-invasive assessment and prediction of clinically significant portal hypertension, Gut 60 (Suppl 1), A245-A246 Impact factor: 20.06

P16 Non-invasive detection of oesophageal varices: comparison of non-invasive assessment of systemic haemodynamics with laboratory parameters and predictive scores

K Rye, G Mortimore, A Austin, J Freeman (2010). Gut 59 (Suppl 2), A18-A18 Impact factor: 20.06

Rye, K.A., Mortimore, G., Austin, A., Freeman, J. (2010). Non-invasive assessment of systemic haemodynamics to determine the oesophageal variceal size in cirrhotic patients, Gut Vol 59 (4); Supp 1, A75-A75 Impact factor: 20.06

Rye, K.A., Mortimore, G., Austin, A., Freeman, J. (2010). PTU-066 Non-invasive assessment of systemic haemodynamics to determine variceal bleeding risk in cirrhotic patients, Gut Vol 59 (4) Supp 1, A75-A76 Impact factor: 20.06

National Institute of Health and Care Excellence [NICE], (2010) Alcohol-use disorders: diagnosis and management of physical complications. Clinical guideline [CG100]

Rye, K. & Mortimore, G., John, S., Jefferies, H., Korsheed, S.Owen, P., Fluck, R., Mcintyre, C., Austin, A., Freeman, J. (2009). Tissue advanced glycation endproducts in two populations associated with increased oxidative stress: Normal in cirrhosis but elevated in haemodialysis patients. Gut, April. A71. Impact factor: 20.06

Rye, K., Mortimore, G., Austin, A., Freeman, J. (2008). Autonomic Dysfunction Measured By Barore-Flex Sensitivity Is Markedly Abnormal In Stable Cirrhosis Despite Minimal Systemic Haemodynamic Changes, Hepatology 48 (4), 1052A-1052A Impact factor 17.425

Rye, K., Taylor, N., Li, K.K., Mortimore, G., Johnson, M., Freeman, J. (2007) ‘Acute renal failure in cirrhosis: Is it as bad as we think?’ GUT, Mar, Vol. 56 (Suppl. 2) A. Impact factor: 20.06

Thomas, T., Menon, G., Mortimer, G., Semeraro, D., Lai, V., Austin, A., Freeman, J. (2007). 012 Histological predictors of oesophageal varices. a single blinded retrospective analysis. GUT , Mar, Vol. 56 (Suppl. 2) A. Impact factor: 20.06

Li, K., Mortimore, G., Jackson, M., Clarke, D., Freeman, J. G., Austin, A. (2006). ‘Patient experience of day case liver biopsy: Prospective audit’, Hepatology, Vol. 44 Suppl. S1, p. 378A, Impact factor 17.425

Li, K., Mortimore, G., Jackson, M., Semeraro, D., Clarke, D., Freeman, J. G., Austin A. (2006). Prospective audit of liver biopsy practice: Is bigger better? Hepatology, 44, (Suppl. S1), p. 377A Impact factor 17.425

Casey, G.M., Norcliffe, N.A., Sharpe, P., Buggy, D.J. (2006). Perioperative Nimodipine and Postoperative Analgesia, Anesthesia & Analgesia 102 (2), 504-508

Courses

strands of DNA

Genetic haemochromatosis is thought to affect 1 in 200 people in the UK. But despite this, most people have never heard of the condition. Gerri Mortimore, Lecturer in Post-registration Health Care at the University of Derby, looks at the health implications of this disorder.

person pouring red wine

Is drinking becoming socially unacceptable? Gerri Mortimore, Lecturer in Post-registration Health Care at the University of Derby, investigates the latest statistics.

Somebody pouring red wine from a bottle into a glass on a picnic table outdoors

Gerri Mortimore, Lecturer in Post-registration Health Care at the University of Derby, asks is alcohol really all that bad?