Examining the relevance and implementation of a core-outcome set for inpatient care for Children with Complex Care Needs in the NHS

About the Project

Children with complex care needs (CCCN) represent a growing and increasingly visible population within paediatric healthcare, both in England and internationally. Advances in medical care have improved survival, contributing to a sustained rise in the number of children living with complex care needs. These children require frequent and prolonged hospital admissions, yet evidence suggests that outcomes and experiences for this group remain suboptimal.

Research focused specifically on improving inpatient care for CMC remains limited. As attention to this area grows, it is important to ensure that appropriate and meaningful outcomes are identified to assess the impact of emerging interventions. Work to develop a core outcome set (COS) for this population is progressing internationally; however, there is a need to establish the feasibility of collecting the required outcome data within routine NHS systems.

This PhD will examine the transferability and use of a new Core Outcome Set (COS), within the context of the English NHS. The research will explore the relevance and usability of this COS in the English NHS setting. The PhD will include:

1. Qualitative research with key stakeholders in England to explore the relevance of the COS across the range of paediatric NHS inpatient settings (including district general hospitals, tertiary centres, and hospitals with paediatric critical care facilities), incorporating perspectives from patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
2. Modification to the COS, if necessary, using a structured Nominal Group Technique.
3. Assessing the feasibility of collecting the COS data within NHS research studies, providing practical insight into implementation across diverse clinical settings.

For project enquiries please email Professor Manning joseph.manning@le.ac.uk

To apply please refer to our web page https://le.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/funded-opportunities/cls-healthcare-manning

September 2026 start.

Funding Notes

College of Life Sciences Studentship will provide:

• 3.5 years UK tuition fees
• 3.5 years stipend at the UKRI rates. For 2026/7 this will be £21,805 per year, paid in monthly instalments

International students are welcome to apply but will need to be able to pay the difference between UK and Overseas fees for the duration of study. The fee annual fee difference for 2026/7 academic year will be £19,012. Costs relating to travel, visa and NHS surcharge will be the responsibility of the student.