Dr Alexander Whitelaw

Senior Lecturer (Social & Environmental Sustainability)
Associate (School of Health & Wellbeing)

telephone: 01387702089
email: Alexander.Whitelaw@glasgow.ac.uk

Biography

Sandy has a 25 year track record in teaching, research and publication in and around public health policy. He started his professional life as a school teacher and took a Masters programme in Public Health (Manchester University) in 1986. This led to four years of work as a Public Health Specialist - in a community drug service and a role as a primary care facilitator. He entered higher education in 1991 as a Lecturer in Health Care Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University and returned to the Public Health Department at Manchester University in 1992 to teach on their Public Health Masters. He took up a role of Research Manager within NHS Health Scotland in 1997 and returned to higher education in 2000 at St Martin's College (Lancaster). He has been in his current position - Lecturer in Health and Social Policy within the School of Social & Environmental Sustainability since 2002. He has taught extensively at UG and PG levels within SoIS degree programmes. In the past 7 years, he has been leader of the programme, MA (Hons.) Health and Social Policy. This time has also seen him undertake multiple field research projects with associated publications.

Research interests

The conceptual nature of public health
The implementation and sustainability of healthy public policy and practice
'Settings-based' approaches to public health
Discourse-based approaches to policy research

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2008

Number of items: 39.

2024

Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508, Vijay, Devi and Clark, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5700-4916 (2024) Where are the values in evaluating palliative care? Learning from community-based palliative care provision. Palliative Care and Social Practice, 18, p. 26323524241287223. (doi: 10.1177/26323524241287223) (PMID:39381713) (PMCID:PMC11459518)

2023

Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 and Topping, Chris (2023) Investment decisions on physical activity promotion: a locality case study in complex public health policy making. Social Policy and Society, 22(2), pp. 243-266. (doi: 10.1017/S1474746421000415)

Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508, Bell, Anthony, Mackay, Ailsa and Hall, Heather (2023) Fostering resilience in young people with intellectual disabilities using a ‘settings’ approach. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, (doi: 10.1177/17446295231168186) (Early Online Publication)

2022

Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508, Bell, Anthony and Clark, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5700-4916 (2022) The expression of ‘policy’ in palliative care: A critical review. Health Policy, 126(9), pp. 889-898. (doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.06.010) (PMID:35840439)

Bell, Anthony, Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508, Mackay, Ailsa and Barber, Paul (2022) Fostering Resilience in Young People with Additional Support Needs Using a ‘Settings’ Approach. Documentation. National Centre for Resilience (NCR).

Casey, Ryan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7672-1678, Wessels, Bridgette ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2794-2116, Challinor, Jennifer and Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 (2022) Connected Homes: Co-creating connected homes with households to support wellbeing in a rural location. Project Report. University of Glasgow.

2021

Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508, Gibson, Isla, Wild, Annie, Hall, Heather and Molloy, Heather (2021) The Dumfries Arts Award Project: towards building a programme theory of innovation transfer across two social organisations. Social Enterprise Journal, 17(2), pp. 183-202. (doi: 10.1108/SEJ-11-2019-0081)

Carrasco, José Miguel, Inbadas, Hamilton ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6149-9306, Whitelaw, Alexander ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 and Clark, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5700-4916 (2021) Early impact of the 2014 World Health Assembly Resolution on palliative care: a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with key experts. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 24(1), pp. 103-106. (doi: 10.1089/jpm.2019.0384) (PMID:32191149) (PMCID:PMC7757691)

Vijay, Devi, Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 and Clark, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5700-4916 (2021) Logic conflicts in community-based palliative care. Progress in Palliative Care, 29(3), pp. 149-155. (doi: 10.1080/09699260.2020.1817691)

2020

Clelland, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1081-1478, van Steijn, Danny, Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508, Connor, Stephen, Centeno, Carlos and Clark, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5700-4916 (2020) Palliative care in public policy: results from a global survey. Palliative Medicine Reports, 1(1), pp. 183-190. (doi: 10.1089/pmr.2020.0062) (PMID:32954376) (PMCID:PMC7497719)

Thirlwall, Claire and Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 (2020) Utilising community engagement approaches to influence public mental health policy in a rural setting. Journal of Public Mental Health, 19(2), pp. 169-178. (doi: 10.1108/JPMH-07-2018-0045)

2019

Gibson, Isla, Whitelaw, Alexander ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508, Topping, Christopher and Kopela, Jo (2019) Food and physical literacy: exploring an obesity prevention approach using formative research. Health Education Journal, 78(5), pp. 570-581. (doi: 10.1177/0017896919829775)

Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 and Clark, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5700-4916 (2019) Palliative care and public health: an asymmetrical relationship? Palliative Care: Research and Treatment, 12, pp. 1-14. (doi: 10.1177/1178224218819745) (PMID:30814842) (PMCID:PMC6383085)

Topping, Chris, Kopela, Jo, Gibson, Isla and Whitelaw, Alexander ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 (2019) Physical and food literacy: a holistic approach to public health? In: Whitehead, Margaret (ed.) Physical Literacy Across the World. Series: Routledge studies in physical education and youth sport. Routledge: London. ISBN 9781138571556

2018

Wild, Annie, Clelland, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1081-1478, Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508, Fraser, Sandy and Clark, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5700-4916 (2018) Mapping the “housing with care” concept with stakeholders: insights from a UK case study. Journal of Integrated Care, 26(4), pp. 257-266. (doi: 10.1108/JICA-12-2017-0046) (PMID:30464723) (PMCID:PMC6195168)

Zaman, Shahaduz, Whitelaw, Alexander ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508, Richards, Naomi ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3029-5132, Inbadas, Hamilton ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6149-9306 and Clark, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5700-4916 (2018) A moment for compassion: emerging rhetorics in end-of-life care. Medical Humanities, 44(2), pp. 140-143. (doi: 10.1136/medhum-2017-011329) (PMID:29440385) (PMCID:PMC6031266)

2017

Clark, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5700-4916 and Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 (2017) Living well, dying well - the importance of housing. European Journal of Palliative Care, 24(5), pp. 199-202.

Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508, Coburn, Jonathan, Lacey, Marion, McKee, Martin J. and Hill, Carol ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0033-7311 (2017) Libraries as 'everyday' settings: the Glasgow MCISS project. Health Promotion International, 32(5), pp. 891-900. (doi: 10.1093/heapro/daw021) (PMID:27006366)

Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508, Topping, Chris, McCoy, Michele and Turpie, Lindsay (2017) Promoting integration within the public health domain of physical activity promotion: insights from a UK case study. Journal of Integrated Care, 25(3), pp. 174-185. (doi: 10.1108/jica-01-2017-0002)

Inbadas, Hamilton ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6149-9306, Zaman, Shahaduz, Whitelaw, Alexander ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 and Clark, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5700-4916 (2017) Representation of 'Palliative Care' in Assisted Dying/Euthanasia Declarations. 15th World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care, Madrid, Spain, 18 - 20 May 2017.

Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508, Thirlwall, Claire, Morrison, Amy, Osborne, Jill, Tattum, Lisa and Walker, Sharon (2017) Developing and implementing a social prescribing initiative in primary care: insights into the possibility of normalization and sustainability from a UK case study. Primary Health Care Research and Development, 18(2), pp. 112-121. (doi: 10.1017/S1463423616000219) (PMID:27269818)

Clark, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5700-4916, Inbadas, Hamilton ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6149-9306, Colburn, Ben ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1416-1844, Forrest, Catriona ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3010-9088, Richards, Naomi ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3029-5132, Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 and Zaman, Shahaduz (2017) Interventions at the end of life – a taxonomy for ‘overlapping consensus’. Wellcome Open Research, 2, 7. (doi: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.10722.1) (PMID:28261674) (PMCID:PMC5336190)

Zaman, Shahaduz, Inbadas, Hamilton ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6149-9306, Whitelaw, Alexander ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 and Clark, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5700-4916 (2017) Common or multiple futures for end of life care around the world? Ideas from the ‘waiting room of history’. Social Science and Medicine, 172, pp. 72-79. (doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.11.012) (PMID:27894008) (PMCID:PMC5224187)

Inbadas, Hamilton ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6149-9306, Zaman, Shahaduz, Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 and Clark, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5700-4916 (2017) Declarations on euthanasia and assisted dying. Death Studies, 41(9), pp. 574-584. (doi: 10.1080/07481187.2017.1317300) (PMID:28398131) (PMCID:PMC5951142)

Johnston, Sean F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6156-9768, Franks, Benjamin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3258-8091 and Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 (2017) Crowd-sourced science: societal engagement, scientific authority and ethical practice. Journal of Information Ethics, 26(1), pp. 49-65.

Turpie, Lindsay, Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 and Topping, Christopher (2017) Physical activity promotion in care homes. Working with Older People, 21(4), pp. 206-214. (doi: 10.1108/WWOP-07-2017-0016)

2016

Inbadas, Hamilton ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6149-9306, Zaman, Shahaduz, Whitelaw, Alexander ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 and Clark, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5700-4916 (2016) Palliative care declarations: mapping a new form of intervention. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 52(3), e7-e15. (doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.05.009) (PMID:27401509) (PMCID:PMC5026679)

Johnston, Sean F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6156-9768, Franks, Benjamin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3258-8091 and Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 (2016) Crowd sourced science: societal engagement, scientific authority and ethical practice. Informing the Good Society, Edinburgh Napier University, 15 Apr 2016. (Unpublished)

2013

Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 and Hill, Carol ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0033-7311 (2013) Achieving sustainable social enterprises for older people: evidence from a European project. Social Enterprise Journal, 68(2), pp. 138-153. (doi: 10.1108/SEJ-05-2012-0016)

2012

Whitelaw, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 (2012) Sustaining social organisations in rural areas. In: Farmer, J., Hill, C. and Muñoz, S. (eds.) Community Co-Production: Social Enterprise in Remote and Rural Communities. Edward Elgar: Northampton, UK. ISBN 9781849808408

Hill, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0033-7311 and Whitelaw, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 (2012) Supporting Older People Affected by Cancer: A Community Development Approach. Project Report. NHS Cumbria, Dumfries. (Unpublished)

Whitelaw, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 (2012) The emergence of a 'dose-response' analogy in the health improvement domain of public health: a critical. Critical Public Health, (doi: 10.1080/09581596.2012.682147)

Whitelaw, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508, Graham, N., Black, D., Cockburn, J. and Renwick, L. (2012) Developing capacity and achieving sustainable implementation in healthy ‘settings’: insights from NHS Health Scotland's Health Promoting Health Service project. Health Promotion International, 27(1), pp. 127-137. (doi: 10.1093/heapro/dar038)

2011

Whitelaw, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508, Smart, E., Kopela, J., Gibson, T. and King, V. (2011) Developing social marketing capacity to address health issues. Health Education, 111(4), pp. 319-331. (doi: 10.1108/09654281111144274)

2010

Whitelaw, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508, Teuton, J., Swift, J. and Scobie, G. (2010) The physical activity - mental wellbeing association in young people: A case study in dealing with a complex public health topic using a ‘realistic evaluation’ framework. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 3(2), pp. 61-66. (doi: 10.1016/j.mhpa.2010.06.001)

Springett, J., Whitelaw, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 and Dooris, M. (2010) Sustainable development, equity and health-time to get radical. Critical Public Health, 20(3), pp. 275-280. (doi: 10.1080/09581596.2010.502932)

Hill, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0033-7311, Whitelaw, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 and Stokes, P. (2010) 'Older people for older people' toolkit: developing social enterprise and service delivery in remote and rural areas. Project Report. University of Glasgow: Crichton Publications, Dumfries, UK.

2008

Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 (2008) Health information: a case of saturation or 57 channels and nothing on? Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, 128(4), pp. 175-180. (doi: 10.1177/1466424008092233)

Balogh, Ruth, Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 and Thompson, Jane (2008) Rapid needs appraisal in the modern NHS: potential and dilemmas. Critical Public Health, 18(2), pp. 233-244. (doi: 10.1080/09581590701377010)

This list was generated on Sun Jun 15 12:39:57 2025 BST.

Jump to: Articles | Book Sections | Research Reports or Papers | Conference or Workshop Item

Number of items: 39.

Articles

Inbadas, Hamilton ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6149-9306, Zaman, Shahaduz, Whitelaw, Alexander ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 and Clark, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5700-4916 (2016) Palliative care declarations: mapping a new form of intervention. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 52(3), e7-e15. (doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.05.009) (PMID:27401509) (PMCID:PMC5026679)

Book Sections

Research Reports or Papers

Conference or Workshop Item

Johnston, Sean F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6156-9768, Franks, Benjamin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3258-8091 and Whitelaw, Sandy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-2508 (2016) Crowd sourced science: societal engagement, scientific authority and ethical practice. Informing the Good Society, Edinburgh Napier University, 15 Apr 2016. (Unpublished)

This list was generated on Sun Jun 15 12:39:57 2025 BST.

Grants

Current grants

Arts Programme European Union/Scottish Government Social Innovation Fund (2017-2019) £131,000

Arts Programme Holywood Trust (2018-2020) £50,000

Sandy has previous experience in commissioning, managing and undertaking a range of research projects, including:

Evaluation of MacMillan Cancer Information and Support Services (2013-2015) Glasgow Life/MacMillan
Cancer Public Attitudes to Physical Activity in Glasgow (2010) Glasgow Centre for Population Health
Engaging with people to use the environment for physical activity (2009-2010) National Physical Activity Research and Evaluation group (NPARE)
Older People for Older People (2008-2011) EU Northern Periphery Project
Cumbria Community Support Project for Older People with Cancer (2008-2010) Cumbria Health Authority
Physical Activity and Mental Health: The role of physical activity in promoting mental wellbeing and preventing mental health problems (2008) NHS Health Scotland
Production of evidence based briefing papers Physical Activity and Health Alliance (2006-2007) Scottish Physical Activity and Health Alliance
Development of a Physical Activity Policy maze (2007) NHS Health Scotland
An international benchmarking exercise to identify those countries that are considered to be examples of best Physical Activity training practice (2006-2007) NHS Health Scotland
Evaluation of HEBS Health Promoting Health Service Project (2002-2005) HEBS
Dumfries and Galloway Rapid Needs Appraisal Project (2003-2004) NHS D&G
Establishing baseline Indicators for the Scottish Health Promoting Schools Unit (2003) Scottish Executive/SHPSU
A review of Exercise on Prescription Schemes for South Asian Muslim women (1997-2001) NHS Research and Development Programme;
A trial of a health promotion resource aimed at increasing ‘active commuting’ (1997-2001) The Scottish Office
Mental Health Research and Development Review (2000) North Cumbria Health Authority
West Cumbria Rapid Needs Appraisal Project (2000) West Cumbria PCG
Public health in acute hospitals: does best practice open doors? (2001) Health Development Agency
Evaluation of Communication for the Future Drug Education project (2001-2002) Department of Health
Survey of Mental Health R&D Capacity in North Cumbria (2001) North Cumbria Health Authority
Evaluation of North Cumbria NHS Trust Health Promoting Organisations project (2001-2002) North Cumbria Health Action Zone
Production of an action research resource for the Social Action Research Project (SHARP) [The Welsh Assembly with CCL Consult Research & Development; 2002)
Survey of physical activity provision in West Cumbria (2002) West Cumbria CVS/Sports Action Zone
Review of HEBS Special Projects (2002) HEBS

Supervision

PhD: Stephen Greenhalgh

Batarfi, Sabreen Saleh A
The Feasibility of Implementing Asset-Based Approaches to Health in Saudi Rural Communities.
St Hilaire Glenn, Andrea Bevin
To explore children's perspectives at the end of life

Teaching

Convenor of Level 2 course: Health and Social Policy & Practice

Convenor of Level 3 course: Public Sector Systems Management

Convenor Level 4 course: Enquiry Project in Health & Social Policy

Contributor

Level 2 course: Human Nature and Wellbeing

M. Sc. Enhanced Practice in Education

MPH Public Health

Additional information

Programme leader, MA (Hons.) Health and Social Policy

Member SoiS Executive Group

Member Athena Swan Charter Planning Group

SoIS Quality Officer

Member of the Glasgow End of Life Studies Group

Contribute to the End of Life Studies blog

Member of the Crichton Institute

Member of Editorial Board, Critical Public Health

Dr Alexander Whitelaw, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Glasgow

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