Deborah Swinglehurst
Papers
1
Total Citations
6
H-Index
1
About
Deborah Swinglehurst is a leading figure in the sociology of healthcare, whose ethnographic work illuminates the complex realities of prescribing and medicines management. Her research critically examines how patient safety is constructed in everyday clinical practice, particularly in the context of rising polypharmacy. In her highly cited 2021 study, “It’s all about patient safety,” Swinglehurst uses ethnographic observation to reveal how pharmacy staff navigate the tension between formal safety protocols and the messy, relational work of managing multiple medications for individual patients. This work challenges simplistic, policy-driven notions of safety, showing instead how it is negotiated through professional discretion, communication, and the practicalities of care. With over 6 citations, this paper has become a key reference for researchers and practitioners seeking to understand the human dimensions of medication safety. Swinglehurst’s broader contributions—spanning primary care, medical sociology, and applied linguistics—offer a critical lens on how healthcare systems can better support both clinicians and patients in the face of increasing complexity. Her work is essential reading for anyone interested in the gap between policy and practice in modern medicine.
Research Focus
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