Funded opportunities

From time to time, we offer the opportunity for local Healthwatch to tender for specific work and projects. 

What can I expect?

• We will promote any opportunities that suit the specific skills and role of local Healthwatch;
• If your response is successful, you will be offered a contract to deliver the work; and
• We will usually make payment for any work upon the completion of the project.

Current opportunities

Understanding experiences of hospital discharge from NHS inpatient care in England

£1,500 available - deadline for applications 9am, Monday 27 July 2026

Healthwatch England is looking to better understand patients’ and carers’ experiences of hospital discharge from NHS inpatient care in England.

This project will explore both delayed discharge and cases where people felt their discharge was poorly planned, poorly communicated, unsafe, or too early; for example, because the right support, equipment, information, care or follow-up arrangements were not in place.

National guidance emphasises that people should be discharged safely, with the right support and clear communication, and that patients, families and carers should be involved in discharge planning. This project will help us understand how this is working in practice from the perspective of patients and carers.

Healthwatch England will run a national survey on SmartSurvey (via our digital communications channels), alongside wider social media promotion. We are also exploring paid media activity.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for 20 local Healthwatch teams to help promote the survey and boost responses from key groups whose experiences we particularly want to hear from.

We will provide £1,500 to each successful local Healthwatch to promote the survey locally and secure eligible responses.

The findings will help update our evidence base on hospital discharge and inform Healthwatch England’s engagement with DHSC, NHS England and other national stakeholders on future discharge policy.