hewlett studied nursing at st bartholomew's hospital and graduated in 1975. she spent five years as a senior sister in a neurosurgical unit before becoming a clinical researcher. she was supported by the arthritis research campaign (now versus arthritis). she studied health care ethics at the university of wales, investigating the ethics of informed consent. she earned a phd at the university of bristol in 2000, where she studied the impact of disability in rheumatoid arthritis.