NHS continuing healthcare is the name given to a package of services which is arranged and funded by the NHS for people outside hospital with ongoing health needs. You can get continuing healthcare in any setting, including your own home or in a care home. NHS continuing healthcare is free, unlike help from social services for which a charge may be made depending on your income and savings.
In your own home, this means that the NHS will pay for healthcare (e.g. services from a community nurse or specialist therapist) and personal care (e.g. help with bathing, dressing and laundry). In a care home, the NHS pays for your care home fees, including board and accommodation.
Anyone assessed as requiring a certain level of care need can get NHS continuing healthcare. It is not dependent on a particular disease, diagnosis or condition, nor on who provides the care or where that care is provided.If your overall care needs show that your primary need is a health one, you should qualify for continuing healthcare.
The primary health need should be assessed by looking at all of your care needs and relating them to four key indicators:
Further information is available on the Department of Health Website, covering:
This revised framework sets out the principles and processes of the National Framework for NHS continuing healthcare and NHS-funded nursing care. It describes how the phrase a ‘primary health need’ has developed, and how this concept helps in determining when someone should receive NHS continuing healthcare.
(Department of Health, Older People and Dementia, July 2009 (Revised))
The Department of Health and National End of Life Care Programme issued a joint statement to confirm that NHS Continuing Healthcare funded care, can be delivered in a care home setting (nursing and or personal care). It is available for end of life care, and can be fast tracked if necessary.
(Department of Health and National End of Life Care Programme, August 2008)
