Sonya Lockett

Biography

I qualified in 2003 with a first-class BSc (Hons) degree in Physiotherapy from Keele University and embarked on a successful 18 year clinical career at the University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust. After completing core rotations within this large NHS Trust, I specialised in cardio-respiratory physiotherapy and held advanced physiotherapist positions within the Multiple Injuries Unit (Intensive Care), Cardiothoracic Surgery and later as Service Lead for Cardiac Rehabilitation. These specialist areas, crossing the acute and community sectors, remain my passion today but it is my interest in education, leadership, integrated working and sharing of best practice that has led me to academia. I achieved an MSc with distinction in Physical Activity and Public Health in 2015 and completed a Professional Doctorate in Healthcare Science in 2024. I love the diverse opportunities that a career in Allied Health Professions can offer and the difference our professions can make to service users and wider healthcare services. It is my firm belief that sharing knowledge and developing together will elevate our professions and ensure that we have a pivotal role in the advancement of healthcare in the future. I was delighted to receive a National AF Association Healthcare Pioneer Award in 2021 in recognition of innovative practice for Atrial Fibrillation within Rehabilitation.

Research and scholarship

Abstract Poster Presentations at the British Association for Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention:
2023 Preoperative optimization of patients awaiting lung resection in Cardiothoracic surgery: Unlock the potential of Cardiac Rehabilitation and diversify.
2020 At the heart of a pandemic: Cardiac rehabilitation goes viral with the use of telephone and video consultations. An overview of the successful implementation of remote tele-health strategies across all cardiovascular patient groups to sustain and develop rehabilitation service delivery during the pandemic.
2019 Making the right call: The effective use of telephone consultation to increase clinic attendance in Cardiac Rehabilitation. A service development generated by service evaluation to reduce service DNA rates in clinics and programmes and increase service capacity and provision.
2019 Our ageing population: The use of functional and water-based sessions to increase uptake and adherence in elderly multi-morbid patient groups. A pilot investigating the patient demographics and effectiveness of tailored exercise programmes.
2018 Cardiac Rehabilitation raise their profile: An integrated approach to lowering lipids. 12-month project investigating the current practice of General Practice in cholesterol management and the effectiveness of using cardiac Rehabilitation to expediate lipid testing.
2018 Cardiac Rehabilitation send a powerful health message: doing things by the (Face)book. A pilot project looking at the engagement and reach of cardiovascular health messages published on an NHS Facebook platform.

Publications

• Lockett, S Naemi R, Priestman A. 2023 The feasibility of a preoperative high intensity exercise for patients with operable lung cancer: a service evaluation of an established cardiac rehabilitation programme. Journal of Cancer Rehabilitation Vol 6 Issue 1 www.edisciences.org/scheda-j091-vol-6-issue-1
• Lockett, S. 2021 Harnessing the power of cardiac rehabilitation: An effective interim service to screen and refer in AF management. AF Association Healthcare Pioneers Report. AF Association https://heartrhythmalliance.org/medical/af-healthcare-pioneers-and-centres-of-excellence/previous-pioneers/harnessing-the-power-of-cardiac-rehabilitation-an-effective
• Meigh, S. 2017 SoMe in cardiovascular care: like, comment and share. British Journal of Cardiac Nursing Vol 12 Issue 12 www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/full/10.12968/bjca.2017.12.12.594