Staff profile

staff list  BackDr Christopher Biela

  • Job title: Senior Lecturer
  • Dept: Nursing and Applied Clinical Studies
  • Tel: 01227 782466
  • Campus: Canterbury
 

After qualifying as an RGN in 1978 and RMN in 1979 I went on to work at the Royal Marsden Hospital as a charge nurse in medical oncology.  I then moved into a number of nurse education support roles, firstly working as allocations officer at Horton and Banstead hospitals before moving to Tunbridge Wells School of Nursing as Academic Registrar.  I qualified as RNT at South Bank University in 1991 taking my first academic role as lecturer at the Jersey/Southampton School of Nursing and Midwifery.  It was here that an interest in professional issues was kindled, and from where I gained an MA Healthcare Ethics at the University of Wales.

I was appointed Co-ordinator of Professional Development for Canterbury & Thanet NHS Trust in 1994, joining the staff at Canterbury Christ Church College in 1996.  From here I have been developing my academic expertise in healthcare law and ethics.  I presently teach to all disciplines within the Faculty of Health in relation to Healthcare Law and Ethics, as well as run modules on this subject from Foundation Degree to Masters. 

 I also contribute to many of the other specialist post grad modules.  In my present role I have acted as a consultant/adviser to several local trusts in the specialist field of healthcare law.  I have facilitated many workshop seminars on consent updating healthcare professionals in respect to their own practice.  I have recently completed a Ph.D thesis on autonomy and decision making in healthcare, from which I expect to publish several papers during 2007/2008.

Present publications

Research Involvement

  • Research Symposium.  Canterbury Christ Church University,  June 2006.  Decision Making for the Incapacitated Patient.
  • Professional Regulation 2005.  Penningtons Solicitors.  London.  Recent Developments Affecting Healthcare Professionals.

Healthcare Training Involvement

  • East Kent NHS Trust. Healthcare Law & Related Professional Issues, 2003 - 2006
  • West Kent NHS Trust. Healthcare Law & Related Professional Issues in relation to Staff Training Progs.