The Health Services Research (HSR) programme aims to improve the quality, effectiveness and accessibility of the NHS. The programme addresses the three dimensions of quality currently of central concern to the NHS: patient safety, patient experience and effectiveness of care.

Who it's for:
This is the catch-all programme for the NETSCC. HSR commonly requires multidisciplinary approaches to assess the quality and outcomes of services. The programme is mainly researcher-led but there may be calls for proposals to commission in areas of strategic need.

Funding:
The annual budget is for £5m and the programme will either fund multiple small studies or a single large study of national or international importance.

Process:
Applicants can submit research applications at any time via an electronic application form. A number of cut-off dates will be given in a 12 month period. There is a big drop out rate of bids at the short listing stage, where basically the panel selects only potential winners to go forward.

Criteria:
The project should produce rigorous evidence regarding use, costs, quality, access, planning and organisation, financing, and outcomes of services that will lead to improvements in health and health services.
Applications will be judged on the following criteria:

• The project should clearly address all 3 of the main dimensions of quality that are of concern to the NHS: patient safety, patient experience and effectiveness of care.
  
• Project should be of major strategic importance to the NHS
• Project needs to be nationally important
  
• Scientific quality of the proposal and the likelihood of the study making substantial advancements and improvements in knowledge, health and/or health-services
  
• Feasibility of the study
• Demonstration of the necessary skill mix, experience, project management and infrastructure for success - the team needs to be able to deliver and so experienced teams with good track records will be prioritised
• Value for money

HSR Website