Fully Funded UK PhD 2026 at Lancaster University on Healthcare Carbon Emissions, Virtual Wards and Patient Care Decisions

Applications are now open for a fully funded PhD opportunity at Lancaster University focused on healthcare sustainability, carbon emissions, patient care decision-making, and virtual ward systems within acute healthcare settings in England.

This exciting interdisciplinary doctoral research project is designed for students passionate about health inequalities, public health, environmental sustainability, healthcare systems, sociology, psychology, nursing, and implementation science.

The PhD project, titled “Exploring Patient and Carer Understandings of and Perspectives on Carbon Emissions When Making Virtual Ward Care Decisions Within Acute Care Settings,” offers successful applicants a fully funded studentship including an annual stipend of £21,805 per year alongside tuition fee coverage for eligible home students.

The research is highly relevant to the future of healthcare systems globally, especially as healthcare institutions increasingly focus on sustainability and reducing carbon emissions while maintaining quality patient care.

About the Research Project

The National Health Service (NHS) in England became the first healthcare system globally to commit to ambitious net-zero carbon emissions targets:

• Net zero for direct emissions by 2040
• Net zero for broader emissions by 2045

Healthcare delivery contributes significantly to carbon emissions within the NHS. According to the project information:

• Care provision accounts for approximately 24% of NHS carbon emissions.
• Acute hospital care contributes around 56% of emissions related to care delivery.
• Acute care represents approximately 13% of all NHS England emissions.

This makes acute healthcare settings one of the largest contributors to healthcare-related environmental impact in England.

The PhD project seeks to understand how patients and carers perceive the environmental impact of healthcare and how carbon emission information may influence healthcare decisions, especially regarding virtual ward care systems.

Focus Areas of the PhD Research

The successful PhD candidate will investigate patient and carer perspectives surrounding environmentally sustainable healthcare and virtual care delivery models.

Research Areas Include:

1. Understanding patient and carer awareness of healthcare-related carbon emissions
2. Exploring how environmental information may influence healthcare choices
3. Investigating virtual ward systems in acute care settings
4. Studying experiences related to:
   • Heart failure
   • Respiratory illnesses
   • Frailty-related conditions
5. Co-designing patient guidance on environmentally sustainable healthcare
6. Evaluating implementation strategies and impact

What the Successful Candidate Will Do

The selected doctoral researcher will undertake several important research and engagement activities throughout the PhD programme.

Key Responsibilities Include:

1. Conduct a Systematic Review

The student will carry out a comprehensive literature review focused on:

• Patient and carer understanding of healthcare environmental impacts
• Carbon emissions associated with healthcare delivery
• Sustainable healthcare communication

2. Deliver Interviews and Workshops

The project involves:

• Conducting patient and carer interviews
• Organizing deliberative workshops
• Analysing qualitative data
• Gathering experiences from individuals affected by heart failure, respiratory illness, and frailty-related conditions

3. Facilitate Co-Design Activities

The candidate will work collaboratively with patients and carers to develop guidance materials related to:

• Environmental impacts of acute healthcare
• Sustainable healthcare decision-making
• Patient-centered communication tools

The project will also use theoretical and conceptual models linked to co-design methodologies.

4. Evaluate Implementation and Impact

The student will:

• Design and deliver implementation evaluations
• Explore real-world application of the developed toolkit
• Use implementation science approaches to assess outcomes and impact

5. Collaborate with Research Teams and PPIE Groups

There will also be opportunities to:

• Work alongside interdisciplinary research teams
• Collaborate with Patient Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) groups
• Support public engagement strategies
• Contribute to evaluation activities

Funding and Financial Benefits

This PhD studentship offers substantial financial support for eligible candidates.

Funding Includes:

• Fully funded PhD studentship
• Annual stipend of £21,805
• Tuition fee coverage for home students
• Opportunity to engage in impactful healthcare research
• Access to interdisciplinary academic supervision and networks

The funding duration aligns with standard UK doctoral programme structures.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the academic qualifications required for admission.

Applicants Should Have:

Undergraduate Degree

A strong first degree (minimum 2:1 classification or equivalent) in a relevant discipline such as:

• Nursing
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Public health
• Medical humanities
• Social sciences
• Health sciences

Master’s Degree

A Master’s degree with at least Merit level (or equivalent) in a relevant social science or healthcare-related discipline is preferred.

Important Dates

Application Deadline

15 June 2026

Interview Period

Week commencing 29 June 2026

Programme Start Date

28 September 2026

Applicants are encouraged to prepare their applications early to avoid missing the deadline.

Apply Here

Supervisors and Contact Information

Prospective applicants may contact the project supervisors for further discussion or clarification regarding the research proposal and application process.

Supervisors

• Professor Heather Brown
• Professor Amanda Taylor-Beswick

Why This PhD Opportunity Stands Out

This PhD offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of:

• Healthcare sustainability
• Environmental policy
• Patient-centred care
• Public health
• Health inequalities
• Implementation science
• Virtual healthcare systems

The project is especially relevant in today’s global healthcare environment where sustainability and carbon reduction strategies are becoming increasingly important.

Students interested in climate-conscious healthcare systems and socially impactful research will find this doctoral opportunity highly valuable.

Career Opportunities After the PhD

Graduates from this programme may pursue careers in:

• Health policy research
• Public health institutions
• NHS research and innovation
• Academia and teaching
• Healthcare sustainability consulting
• Health economics
• Implementation science
• Environmental health policy
• Patient engagement and healthcare innovation

Final Thoughts

As healthcare systems worldwide seek sustainable and environmentally responsible models of care delivery, research opportunities like this fully funded Lancaster University PhD are becoming increasingly significant.

This programme not only provides strong financial support but also allows students to contribute to globally relevant healthcare transformation and sustainability goals.

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