Are you confused or worried about NHS continuing healthcare?
If so, you are not alone. Many people do not understand what it is, whether they or a loved one may be eligible and where to go to get help, advice and assistance with their application.
Who is eligible?
NHS continuing healthcare is available to individuals who are not in hospital but who have been assessed as having a “primary health need” taking into consideration the nature, complexity, unpredictability and intensity of their needs. In general terms this means that to qualify you must have nursing needs which go beyond a basic level of care. The official definition is: “needs must be “more than incidental or ancillary to the provision of accommodation and of a nature beyond which Social Services could be expected to provide”. A parent or guardian can apply on behalf of their child.
Who funds it?
The NHS – once you have navigated your way successfully through the application procedure. This is not always straightforward and sometimes applications are rejected when they should not have been. Don’t be put off, these are valuable packages of care worth pursuing and if you get stuck, we are here to help.
Care Packages
If you are eligible then the care can either be delivered at home or in a nursing care home. If it is delivered at home then the NHS will pay for all necessary support services such as nursing, specialist therapy and other more general help to do with personal care. The alternative is that the NHS will fund an individual’s nursing care home fees, including board and accommodation.
Are you eligible?
Eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare does not depend on:
- a specific health condition, illness or diagnosis
- who provides the care
- where the care is provided – it can be in a nursing home or in the comfort of your own home
- income – as funding is free and not means tested.
How we can help?
If you believe that you or a member of your family may be eligible for NHS continuing health care funding, we can help in a number of ways. We will:
- help you understand the process of applying for NHS continuing healthcare
- have an initial telephone conversation with you to explore why you believe NHS continuing healthcare is applicable to your or your family member’s situation
- advise you on the merits of your case
- assist you with your application
- advise you on what to expect on application
- advise you on how to appeal, should your application be rejected (which often happens)
- assist a Personal Representative in making a retrospective claim on behalf of a person who has sadly passed away but should have been in receipt of NHS continuing healthcare during their lifetime.