# Improving Discharge Delivery Across Health and Social Care

**Funder:** NIHR
**Application:** 2-stage: outline → full proposal
**Frequency:** One-off
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/improving-discharge-delivery-across-health-and-social-care/2026457
**Last updated:** 6 Sept 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Commissioned call under the NIHR HSDR Programme for research on improving hospital discharge across health and social care. No fixed limits on funding, duration, or number of co-applicants. Outline stage requires a 5-page research plan plus mandatory flow diagram and references. NHS/social care delivery context implies UK-based applicants.

## Summary

This NIHR HSDR Programme call funds research on improving hospital discharge across health and social care in the UK. It is a one-off commissioned call with no fixed cap on budget, duration, or number of co-applicants, using a two-stage outline-then-full-proposal process. Researchers and teams working on discharge pathways, delivery, and integration between NHS and social care services are the intended audience.

## Who should apply

- Researchers based at UK institutions working on health and social care delivery
- Teams studying hospital discharge pathways and cross-sector integration
- Applicants able to assemble multi-disciplinary co-applicant teams, as numbers are uncapped
- Health services researchers with NHS or social care delivery partnerships

## Key dates

- No deadline stated; outline application window appears currently open
- Two-stage process: outline application (5-page research plan plus flow diagram and references) followed by full proposal
- One-off commissioned call, not part of a recurring annual cycle

## Tips for applicants

- Follow the mandatory flow diagram requirement precisely at outline stage, commissioned HSDR calls score outline applications partly on clarity of the research pathway.
- Because there is no fixed funding or duration cap, justify your requested budget and timeline explicitly against the scope of the discharge problem you address.
- Emphasise cross-sector work spanning NHS and social care, since the call excerpt specifically targets delivery across both systems, not hospital care alone.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is there a funding cap for this NIHR HSDR discharge call?

No, the call states there are no fixed limits on funding, duration, or number of co-applicants.

### How many stages does the application process have?

Two stages: an outline application first, followed by a full proposal for those invited to proceed.

### Who can apply to this NIHR HSDR call?

The call is commissioned under the NIHR HSDR Programme and, given its NHS and social care delivery focus, is aimed at UK-based applicants and institutions.

### Is this an annual or recurring call?

No, it is listed as a one-off call rather than a recurring competition.

### What does the outline application require?

A 5-page research plan plus a mandatory flow diagram and references.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/nihr-improving-discharge-delivery-across-health-and-soc-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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