Dr Cheryl Voake

Overview

Position: Research Associate Email: VoakeC@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone: 029 208 70850
Fax: +44(0)29 208 74199
Extension: 70850
Location: M/1.31

Research Interests

Queuing Theory, Simulation and Statistics, particularly in healthcare.

Teaching

Spring Semester
MA0004 Preliminary Mathematics II

Research Group

Operational Research

Publications

Research

Current Project:

My current project is looking at relocating outpatient care, traditionally provided in a secondary setting, to primary care. This is within the ear, nose and throat (ENT) department, and focuses on some ear and Audiology services. Collaboration with Cardiff & Vale University Health Board is an important part of this project and both clinical and managerial stakeholders are crucial to the success of the project. We are aiming to measure value, as a combination of patient experience, quality and costs. This incorporates many elements, such as patient satisfaction, carbon footprint and safety. The project is funded by The Health Foundation as part of their Shine Award scheme; more details can be found here: http://www.health.org.uk/areas-of-work/programmes/shine-twelve/related-projects/cardiff-and-vale-university-health-board I am also interested in learning and teaching methodologies and theories, and recently completed a project sponsored by HE STEM looking at student transition to university.

Past Projects:

My PhD was funded by Cardiff & Vale University Health Board and concerned trauma hip fracture patients at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. Statistical analyses were undertaken to investigate influential factors of length of stay and mortality, with a particular focus on operative delay (time between admission and surgery). Techniques used include multivariate linear regression, multivariate logistic regression, CART analysis, principal components analysis and principal components regression. Simulation models were built of the ward and the operating theatre in order to investigate whether any feasible changes could be made to improve throughput and patient outcome. Queuing theory models were also developed, with a particular focus on random arrivals and Erlang service, with two arrival streams following different service distributions. Queues with vacations were also investigated. I also completed a Final Year project as part of my undergraduate degree. This involved building a simulation model of the transmission of MRSA around a hospital ward.

Biography

Qualifications:

BSc –Mathematics, Operational Research and Statistics (2008)

Cardiff University PhD – Mathematics (2012), Cardiff University. Thesis title: Modelling trauma hip fracture hospital activities.

Positions:

Jan 2013 – present: Research Associate

Conference Contributions:

Life after NATCOR – Voake C. NATCOR Stochastic Modelling course; Lancaster University; April 2013, April 2011.

Mathematics Teacher Fellow and student shadowing project – Wilson R, Powell P and Voake C. National HE STEM Programme Conference; University of Birmingham, September 2012.

Modelling trauma hip fracture patients: the impact on operating theatres and the orthopaedic ward – Voake C, Griffiths J and Williams J. Operational Research Applied to Health Services (ORAHS); Genoa, Italy; July 2010.

Modelling the spread of MRSA around a hospital ward – Voake C. Speaking of Science; Cardiff University, May 2010.

Statistics workshop: An introduction to some techniques available to Operational Researchers – Voake C. Student Conference in Operational Research (SCOR); University of Nottingham; April 2010.

Modelling orthopaedic patient hospital activities – Voake C, Gedgaudaite R, Griffiths J, Williams J, Turley A and Johansen A. Velindre NHS Trust Research & Development Conference; Cardiff; November 2009.

Modelling trauma hip fracture hospital activities – Voake C, Griffiths J and Williams J.
EUROXXIII; Bonn, Germany; July 2009.
SCOR; Lancaster University; March 2009.
LANCS PhD Symposium; Cardiff; January 2009.
OR50; York; September 2008.

Investigating trauma hip fracture hospital activities – Voake C, Griffiths J and Williams J. Physical Sciences & Engineering Graduate School Annual Lecture; Cardiff University; November 2009 [poster].

ORAHS; Leuven, Belgium; July 2009. Health Solutions Wales and Cardiff School of Mathematics joint seminar; Cardiff School of Mathematics; July 2009.

An investigation into transmission models for MRSA – Voake C, Griffiths J and Williams J. ORAHS; Toronto, Canada; August 2008.

Accreditations and Awards:

Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Candidate Associate of The Operational Research Society. Best Talk – Speaking of Science; Cardiff University; May 2010.

Best Newcomer Oral Presentation – Velindre NHS Trust Research & Development Conference; Cardiff; November 2009.

Best Poster - Physical Sciences & Engineering Graduate School Annual Lecture; Cardiff University; November 2009.