Mary Boulton is Professor of Health Sociology and Director of Research in the School of Health & Social Care, Oxford Brookes University.  She is an experienced qualitative researcher.  Her research has included work on the evaluation of health care services from the patients’ point of view; continuity of care in primary care; children with chronic illness and/or disabilities; and families and health. She is also interested in research ethics, the role of research ethics committees and informed consent. She is currently engaged in several studies on the supportive care needs of partners of cancer patients and on the role of primary care in supporting people with cancer and their families.