Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) have launched a call for three-month projects that can address prioritised research questions, inform policy and support a national response.
The funding call aims to address a series of questions to understand citizens at risk this winer, the pressures applied to health and care services, where interventions can be targeted, and what works to reduce poor health outcomes.
Applications are invited from groups across the UK health data infrastructure that can generate rapid insights to address research questions.
One of the research questions is to understand what is causing the pressures on the health and social care system, so interventions can be developed and targeted more effectively. In this area the funding call asks: “What are the local drivers of pressures on the health and social care system such as GP appointment waiting times, ambulance waiting times, waiting lists for elective surgery, delayed discharge, re-admissions and capacity in social care?” It also aims to understand the factors associated with higher performing health systems, such as ICSs where delayed discharge is not a significant issue.
Another research area is to use regional or ICS level data to predict what the pressures will be on primary care, hospitals, and social care. This research question aims to address and identify how the system is working and where the pressures are across primary, secondary and social care. It also asks what key indicators could be tracked to indicate the system is at risk of becoming overwhelmed and to allow actionable intervention.
The programme also seeks to understand who is most at risk of poor health or hospitalisation due to the risks that may arise this winter, as well as what works to reduce poor health outcomes.
