Continuing Healthcare
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 apply for 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.
Anyone assessed as requiring a certain level of care can get NHS continuing healthcare. It is not dependent on a particular disease, diagnosis or condition, nor on who provides the care or where the care is provided.
If your overall care need shows that your primary need is a health one, you may be eligible for continuing healthcare.
NHS-funded Nursing Care
NHS-funded nursing care is a contribution towards your registered nursing care made by your Primary Care Trust.
You should received NHS-funded nursing care if:
- you have been assessed as requiring the services of a registered nurse
- you do not qualify for NHS continuing healthcare (i.e. nursing and accommodation costs) but have been assessed as requiring the services of a registered nurse
- you are not receiving registered nursing care in any other way - for example, directly from your primary care trust.
NHS Continuing Healthcare Cut-off Dates
Do you think you were entitled to NHS Continuing Healthcare between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2012?
In March 2012, the Department of Health (DOH) announced the introduction of deadlines for individuals to request an assessment of eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding for cases during the period 1 April 2004 - 31 March 2012.
If you have never applied for NHS Continuing Healthcare, but think you may have been entitled to receive it, you can apply to your local PCT for an assessment - but you must do so before the cut-off date that was announced by the Department of Health:-
- for NHS Continuing Healthcare that people believe they should have, or are entitled to receive, anytime between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2012, the cut-off date is 31 March 2013.
The deadline for the time period from 1 April 2004 – 31 March 2011 was 30 September 2012 and is now closed.
Continuing Healthcare is care provided over an extended period of time to meet physical or mental health needs that have arisen as a result of disability, accident or illness. It is only provided where an individual requires long term healthcare and NOT social or residential care. If you have any questions please call the Continuing Healthcare Team on 01305 368084.
For additional information please click on the following documents:-
- CHC Retro Deadlines Fact Sheet
- DOH CHC Cut Off Dates FAQ
- DOH NHS CHC Timescales For Reviews FAQ
- DOH NHS CHC Time Limit Guidance for SHA and PCT for requests of an eligibility decision
Links to publications
The following are links to the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care publications. The publications have been produced by the Department of Health.
- the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care
- NHS-funded Nursing Care Practice
The following is the toolkit which is used to support practitioners in making a decision as to whether Continuing Care is appropriate. - Decision support toolkit for NHS Continuing Healthcare
Public Information Leaflet - this leaflet has been produced to answer your questions about NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care following the changes that were introduced on 1 October 2007 when the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care was implemented.
Applying for Continuing Healthcare or NHS-funded Nursing Care in Dorset
If you feel you may be eligible for either NHS Continuing Healthcare or NHS-funded Nursing Care and you are registered with a GP in the NHS Dorset boundary, then you will need to contact the NHS Funded Continuing Healthcare Department. The details are below:
NHS-funded Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care
NHS Dorset
Suite 6
Mey House
Bridport Road
Poundbury
Dorchester
DT1 3QY
Telephone number: 01305 361123
