NHS Continuing Healthcare - Deadlines for assessments of eligibility

 

The Department of Health has recently issued guidance that assessments of eligibility for retrospective continuing healthcare funding will be coming to an end on 31st March 2013. There are now deadlines for applying for this funding and the information below has been provided to support people who believe they may be eligible to apply. However, assessments for current CHC funding will still be undertaken.

 

NHS Devon Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Factsheet - this factsheet contains information on the deadlines for assessments of eligibility, and contact details for each CHC team in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay.

 

Continuing Healthcare FAQs - this document answers many of the questions you may have about your eligibility to apply for funding and how to do this.

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

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.
Find out more about Continuing Healthcare

NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC)

NHS Funded Nursing Care is provided to clients residing in a registered nursing home only. The local authority cannot provide clinical services because the NHS is responsible for any care that must be provided by a registered nurse. For people in care homes providing registered nursing care, registered nurses are usually employed by the home itself. In order to fund this nursing care the NHS makes a payment to the care home to cover the cost of providing the care for those who are eligible.
Find out more about Funded Nursing Care

Background information

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) was established in 1995. In 2001, NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC) was also introduced for people paying their own fees. In 2003 NHS FNC extended to Social Services funded clients.
The Department of Health launched the new National Framework on Continuing Healthcare and Funded Nursing Care (DoH website) on 1 October 2007. The intention of the National Framework was to be more consistent and equitable by introducing a single set of principles on who is eligible for the different levels of NHS funding in England and what is received, as well as setting out a standard process for assessment of eligibility.
The National Framework has brought about some fundamental changes in the way the NHS and local authorities must work. There is a responsibility to ensure that anyone who is potentially eligible should be considered for NHS funding. Further to this the NHS has the lead responsibility for ensuring that people are considered for NHS CHC or FNC where as previously the local authority had lead responsibility for this. The NHS must establish whether an individual has a Primary Health Need or not. If a person does not have a Primary Health Need and is not eligible for fully funded NHS care (CHC) they can then be considered for NHS FNC and/or social care.
The National Framework for CHC/FNC has been revised by the DoH and was made available in July 2009. Please see The Revised National Framework, July 2009 in the Documents below to download a copy of the revised framework documentation and the revised 'Tools' for CHC/FNC - which came into effect on 1st October 2009.

Process for NHS Continuing Healthcare and Funded Nursing Care

The assessment of eligibility for NHS funding begins with the National Screening Tool using the Checklist Tool, which can be carried out by any health or social care professional.

If a patient is not eligible they will be passed to Community Care to have their social care needs assessed.

If a patient is eligible a multi disciplinary team should carry out the full eligibility assessment using the Decision Support Tool.

Further information

• Applying for Continuing Healthcare (CHC) and Funded Nursing Care (FNC)
• Documents
• Frequently Asked Questions

Contact us

Continuing Healthcare Team
NHS Devon
Floor 2, Main Building
County Hall
Topsham Road
Exeter
EX2 4QL

Tel: 0845 863 0670
Email: d-pc.chc@nhs.net