National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care: Information Hub

If you work within primary care in one of Scotland’s rural or remote areas then you could be eligible for research and evaluation funding from the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care. The Centre has been able to identify funding to support NHS primary care practitioners who have already carried out research or evaluation activities pertinent to remote and rural health and care in Scotland. Applications for retrospective funding are invited for work carried out and paid for in 2023/24 and this is offered without commitment or setting precedent for future years. 

To be eligible, you must work within primary care that is located within and/or serves a rural or remote area in Scotland. We anticipate that each individual application will be for no more than £5,000. You must be able to demonstrate that the work has resulted in either/both of the following benefits: 

1. Makes a contribution to the evidence-base for remote, rural, and island health and care research or evaluation.  
2. Has increased your professional development as a remote, rural or island practitioner. 

Funding applications will be considered for: 

1. Postgraduate research e.g., Masters, PhD, EdD etc. 
2. Other professional development work where it can be shown to have contributed to post-graduate level remote, rural, and island research and/or evaluation. 

Selection criteria 

• The research / evaluation should be aligned to NES’ strategic vision and values. 
• The research / evaluation should match the aims and objectives of the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care. 
• The research / evaluation (or part thereof being applied for) must have been self-funded and not have received financial support from any other source. 
• The applicant should live or work in a remote, rural, or island area. 
• The research / evaluation should have a clear and identifiable focus on remote, rural, or island health and care in Scotland. 
• The research / evaluation can be shown to meet one or both of the benefits identified above. 

How to apply 

Applications for funding should be submitted using the application form below to nes.ruralteam@nhs.scot by Friday 8th March 2024 at 17:00 UTC with no exceptions. Please make sure you have completed all sections of the form and included evidence of the amount being requested (receipt, invoice etc.). Failure to include this will result in your application being disregarded. 

The Funding Selection Panel will use the agreed selection criteria to review and score each application. They will then discuss final scorings at a panel discussion on Wednesday 13th March 2024 and applicants will be notified of funding decisions by Friday 15th March 2024.