Research Funding Available to Improve End of Life Care
August 24, 2026New funding opportunity to enhance hospital care for patients at end of life
Leeds Hospitals Charity, in collaboration with Marie Curie, has announced a new funding opportunity aimed at improving the quality of care and discharge processes for patients with palliative and end of life care needs in hospital settings. The initiative follows a previous successful joint funding call and seeks to support research projects that address challenges faced by patients and healthcare providers in Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
Details of the funding call
- Application window: 14 July to 28 September 2026
- Funding amount: £25,000 available for research projects
- Focus: Improving quality of care and discharge for patients with palliative and end of life care needs in hospital
Context and research priorities
The funding call is informed by findings from the Marie Curie report Better End of Life: Time to Care (2024), which highlighted key issues in end of life care across England and Wales. The report revealed that approximately 30% of people surveyed spent their final week of life in hospital during 2023. It also found that more than one third of these patients experienced overwhelming pain, which was distressing for both the patients and their families.
Research proposals are encouraged to address these challenges by exploring ways to:
- Enhance pain management and symptom control for patients at the end of life
- Improve communication and coordination between hospital teams and community services
- Facilitate timely and appropriate discharge planning to support patients’ preferences
- Develop interventions that reduce unnecessary hospital stays at the end of life
Application process
Researchers interested in applying for the funding should prepare proposals that align with the priorities outlined above. The application window opens on 14 July 2026 and closes on 28 September 2026. Further details and guidance on submitting applications are available from Leeds Hospitals Charity.
This funding opportunity represents an effort to improve the experience and outcomes for patients receiving end of life care within hospital settings in Leeds, addressing a critical area of healthcare provision.
