Dr Thompsell was a GP Principal before retraining in psychiatry and becoming an Old Age Psychiatrist She was a Consultant for a multidisciplinary team supporting care homes with nursing and then an old age liaison service in an acute hospital before working in specialist care . She currently works in a community team for older people with serious mental illnesses .

She previously led on the improving care in dementia work stream for London Dementia Strategic Clinical leadership group .She was involved with the implementation of better end of life care in care homes and  also was Clinical Lead for the dementia work stream of the Modernisation Initiative to improve end of life care for those specifically with dementia. She was involved in research on the implementation of Namaste care . She recently completed 4 years as chair of the Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry at the Royal College of Psychiatrists and whilst in post various reports on key topics were published.

She currently is  the National Specialty advisor in older adults’ mental health NHSE&I and a Medical member of First Tier Tribunal service. In addition she is a non executive director on Target Health care REIT.